As I mentioned in my Previous Post: ‘To eat Soy, or Not to eat Soy: That is the Question’ there has been a lot of debate on whether or not Soy is good for us.
In it’s Natural State soy is amazing for our bodies!
Soy has been a food staple in Asian diets for thousands of years. Research shows that Asian countries have far lower rates of cancer than the Unites States. According to many studies, if you eat an adequate amount of soy often enough, your risk of breast cancer will drop by 30-50%. A study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2003 found that women who ate 3 bowls of miso soup a day had a 40% lower risk of breast cancer. (Miso soup is an easy and great snack or addition to your meals every day!)
Genistein (which I mentioned in my previous post) appears to be one of the most important components of Soy.
Genistein is classified as a phytoestrogen because it has a weak estrogenic effect. Research shows that Genistein mixed with other nutrients in Soy is extraordinarily effective at reducing the risk of breast cancer. It has been shown to stop tumor growth, prevent metastasis, and shut off new blood vessels in growing tumors.
Genistein blocks the cancer promoting estrogens from attaching to the estrogen receptors on breast cells. Breast cancer is a hormonal disease (which means a hormone causes the cancer to develop by inciting cells to grow and divide.) For breast Cancer, the hormone is estrogen and the more estrogen you are exposed to increase your odds of getting breast cancer.
In addition to the Cancer fighting benefits from Soybeans it is also a complete protein and a rich source of calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, B vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids and fiber.
Stay tuned for more information on Soy/Breast Cancer and which Soy products are better than others!
Be Well,
Tammy Kohlschmidt RDH, CCT, CBP
