Bean Supreme : Good Health & Good Taste

Yet another unfounded scare story about cancer

Recently the NSW Cancer Council in Australia claimed that too much soy might increase the risk of breast and prostate cancer. The news media jumped all over this story as they are quick to do.

What they omitted to tell was the follow up statement made by the council a few days later. The council's nutritionist explained that soy foods can be part of a healthy diet, but that a diet stops being healthy when that is the only thing you are consuming.

Here is the best information we can supply:

A recent review of 18 different studies concludes that soy has no effect on breast cancer risk, except possibly when consumed during adolescence or eaten in extremely high amounts. A report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that early exposure to soyfoods and the isoflavones they contain promotes the development of breast cells into a form more resistant to cancer-causing influences. This early exposure may provide some degree of protection even years later. Several other reports agree that soy foods may not protect against breast cancer when consumed in adulthood.

Prostate cancer has also been identified as potentially influenced by soy foods. In cell culture studies several soy phytochemicals inhibit prostate cancer cell growth. Most animal studies also show soy compounds protect against cancer in general. Unfortunately, limited information is available about the effects in humans.

Although its effectiveness at reducing breast cancer risk is in considerable doubt, soy remains a reasonable way to lower overall cancer risk. Isoflavones from soy have been shown to block cancer development in animals. In cell culture studies, these substances can inhibit the growth of human cancer cells, blocking the processes by which cancer spreads. As a healthful alternative to meat, soy foods can be part of a plant-based diet that helps prevent cancer.