What About Soy Allergy
You should know however that soy is considered a priority allergen . If you consume soy products and start experiencing a skin reaction, tingling , abdominal symptoms, or signs of anaphylaxis, you should get medical attention. However, an expert committee from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is recommending that soy be moved to the B list of allergens as it impacts a very small number of people globally and generally causes mild symptoms only . Aside from being very nutritious, soy can be made into many delicious dishes and seasoned in a myriad of ways, so we would be foolish to go without.
What Are Soy Foods
Soy is one of the only plant-based food sources of complete protein. Soy is rich in fiber, potassium and magnesium. Examples of soy foods include edamame , tofu, soymilk, soybean sprouts, miso and tempeh . These traditional soy foods have been used in many cultures as reliable sources of protein for thousands of years. More recently, processed soy protein has been added to a variety of foods, such as frozen meals, soups, protein powder drinks, and snack bars.
Soy Foods Are More Than Just Tofu And Soy Sauce
Soy foods are made from soybeansa crop that, until the 1980s, has been used in America primarily as livestock feed, but has been a part of the Asian diet for many generations. Soy is available as edamame , tofu, soy milk, soy powder and flour, miso paste, tempeh, oil, and textured vegetable protein . Soy shows up in many meat analog productsmeatless meatballs, burger style crumbles, and even bacon-like strips and chicken-shaped nuggets.
Don’t Miss: Can Binding Cause Breast Cancer
Differences In How Soy Is Processed
First, mice process the soy differently than humans do. To understand how, a little background is necessary. Soy contains several kinds of phytoestrogens . Phytoestrogens are plant-based substances that act like estrogen in the body.
According to the American Cancer Society , certain types of breast cancer have been traced to increased estrogen in the body. Thats what gave researchers cause for concern about soy and breast cancer. However, in humans, phytoestrogens turn into genistein and daidzein, two isoflavones that are very different from and much weaker than human estrogen.
In fact, soy has been proven to in tissues. In tissues with breast cancer cells, estrogen stimulates the multiplication of cancer cells. When soy blocks this stronger form of estrogen, it is playing an active role in reducing the risk of breast cancer.
Dairy Products And Breast Cancer Risk: What To Know
- New research from Loma Linda University School of Public Health concludes daily consumption of dairy milk can increase breast cancer risk.
- The researchers said they didnt find any increased risk for cheese or yogurt.
- Other experts point out that previous studies have arrived at different conclusions.
- The experts say moderation is key when it comes to consuming dairy products.
Do dairy products, particularly milk, increase the risk of breast cancer?
It might depend on the research youre reading.
A new study suggests that drinking dairy milk daily, even in small amounts, can increase your risk of getting breast cancer as much as 80 percent.
The findings from a team of researchers at Loma Linda University School of Public Health in Southern California were recently published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
We found that at relatively low doses of dairy milk, less than a cup a day, there was a steep rise in the risk of breast cancer said Gary E. Fraser, MBChB, PhD, a professor in the School of Public Health and Medicine at Loma Linda University and the studys lead author.
At a cup a day, we were seeing more than a 50 percent increase in risk, Fraser told Healthline. At 2 to 3 cups per day, the risk increased 70 percent to 80 percent.
The researchers analyzed nearly 8 years of data from 52,795 women in North America.
Their median age was 57 and about a third of them were black women.
The women answered questionnaires about their food intake.
Also Check: Stage 2 Breast Cancer Survival Rate After 20 Years
Is Tofu Good For Cancer
Tofu is a soy-based food, and there is growing concern over a possible link between soy and breast cancer. There has also been speculation that soy might help protect against other cancers, like uterine and prostate. This is because soy contains estrogenic chemicals known as isoflavones. And estrogen can have both positive and negative effects on the human body.
What Other Research Has Found
I think its a very interesting study in a unique population, said , ScD, senior scientific director of epidemiology research at the American Cancer Society.
The women in this study are unique in that they consume a lot of soy and much lower amounts of milk than the general population, she told Healthline.
Most studies in non-vegetarian cohorts have not shown drinking milk increases breast cancer risk, she noted. It has been inconsistent. Some have shown that drinking milk lowers breast cancer risk, some have shown no association, and a couple have shown positive associations.
She pointed to the Continuous Update Project by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, which does continual analysis of research literature.
When you look at the totality of the evidence, were not seeing an increased risk of breast cancer with greater milk consumption, she said.
Susan McCann, PhD, RD, is a professor of oncology in the Department of Cancer Prevention at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York.
Her team of researchers investigated links between the types and quantity of dairy products consumed and the risk of breast cancer.
Their findings were published in Current Developments in Nutrition in 2017.
Contrary to the results of the IJE paper, we found a weak, not statistically significant, 15 percent reduction in breast cancer risk with total dairy intake, she told Healthline.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Know If You Have Breast Cancer Female
If You Have Breast Cancer
In 2017 , the Breast Cancer Family Registry followed the intake of soy isoflavones for 6,235 women diagnosed with breast cancer and living in the U.S. and Canada. It was found that women who ate the highest amounts of soy isoflavones had a 21 percent lower risk of death compared with women with the lowest intakes.
How To Incorporate More Soy Into Your Diet
A diet rich in soy can be healthy, delicious, and fulfilling. Eating soy goes beyond enjoying a block of tofu. Here are some forms of soy you can incorporate into your diet:
- Soy milk. Try using soy milk as a replacement for animal milk in your cereal, your coffee, or even your baking.
- Extra-firm tofu. This form of tofu can be a great replacement for animal protein in your main courses. Alternatively,
- Soft-tofu. This form of tofu is a delicious add-in for soups and stews.
- Soy cheese. If you are sensitive to dairy or looking to cut back on your intake of cheese, consider eating soy cheese as a replacement.
- Miso. This is a great base for soup stocks, salmon marinades, and even desserts.
- Natto. If youre feeling extra adventurous, the fermented soybean called natto can be found at most Asian grocery stores. It is great over rice, in sushi, or with curry.
- Tempeh. Another meat substitute, tempeh, is a delicious and protein-packed addition to any meal.
- Soy sauce. This is another great base for marinades, soups, dressings, or dipping sauces.
It is worth noting that most of the studies regarding soy as a cancer-fighting food are observational, and more detailed studies need to be done. The relationship between soy consumption and breast health may additionally be related to the lifestyle and other dietary habits of people who eat soy products.
While there is no link believed to exist between soy and breast cancer, there might be other reasons for you to consider eating less soy.
Don’t Miss: What Effect Has Breast Cancer Research Had On Society
Favor Whole Soy Foods
While foods made using whole soybeans like edamame, tofu, and soy milk have health benefits, highly processed soy products likely do not. Some food companies have separated protein from whole soybeans and used it to make soy protein isolate. Theyve packed this isolate into shakes and turned it into meat substitutes. Unfortunately, soy protein isolate may not be healthy. In fact, its been shown to increase the amount of insulin-like growth factor in the blood, just like cows milk. Insulin-like growth factor can promote cancer growth. So stick to simple soy products like tofu, tempeh, edamame, soy milk, or miso. These foods may help protect against cancer while providing health benefits.
Does It Decrease Risk
Some evidence suggests that consuming soy may decrease a persons risk of developing breast cancer.
A 2016 review mentions that observational studies show that higher soy consumption is associated with an approximate 30% reduced risk of developing breast cancer in Asian women. However, the review mentioned that current evidence suggests that consumption must occur early in life for soy to reduce breast cancer risk.
According to the breast cancer organization Susan G. Komen, soy seems to have a protective effect against breast cancer in Asian countries where people begin consuming soy products earlier in life and in higher quantities. They note that there is a significant difference in soy consumption in the United States and Japan.
The average daily intake of soy in the U.S. is 13 milligrams , while the average daily intake in Japan is 2550 mg.
Overall, findings suggest that the amount of soy a person consumes affects the reduction in their breast cancer risk. It appears that soy has protective effects if a person consumes it in high enough quantities.
Read Also: Dog Breast Cancer Survival Rate
Eating Soy May Turn On Genes Linked To Cancer Growth
- Tags:Early-stage: Stage 0 DCIS , Early-stage: Stage IA, Early-stage: Stage IB, Early-stage: Stage IIA, Early-stage: Stage IIB, Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, Invasive or Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, Invasive or Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma, Soy, and Diet
Soybeans are the most widely used, least expensive, and least caloric way to get large amounts of protein. You can eat soybeans in many forms, including tofu, the beans themselves , soy milk, miso, and soy powder.
Soy foods have a lot of isoflavones, which are weak estrogen-like compounds found in plants. Because estrogen can promote the development, growth, and spread of breast cancers, doctors have worried that eating a lot of soy foods or soy isoflavones might worsen the prognosis of women diagnosed with breast cancer.
While past research results have been mixed, a small study done by researchers at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College suggests that for some women, adding a medium amount of soy to their diets turns on genes that can cause cancer to grow.
The research was published in the Sept. 4, 2014 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Read the abstract of The Effects of Soy Supplementation on Gene Expression in Breast Cancer: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.
During those 2 to 3 weeks, the women were randomly assigned to receive either:
- a placebo that looked like the soy protein
The study also didnt look at:
Does It Increase Risk
review, studies over the past 25 years consistently show that phytoestrogen intake does not adversely affect breast cancer risk.
However, not all research fully agrees. According to a 2017 study, soy-containing products have both positive and negative effects on breast cancer cells. The researchers noted that many studies tested the effects of phytoestrogens on breast cancer cells in vitro, which does not necessarily indicate how the cells would respond in animal models or humans.
They also noted that studies used different amounts of soy that was derived from different sources, making cross-study comparisons difficult.
Primary and secondary sources of soy
When considering whether soy increases the risk of breast cancer, it may be important to differentiate between of soy. Primary sources include tofu, tempeh, and edamame. Secondary sources refer to products that contain soy, such as soy-based meat derivatives and meat products with added soy protein.
According to a study, secondary sources of soy contain significantly more phytoestrogens, which may affect breast cancer risk. The researchers noted that females in China who consume large amounts of primary soy products showed a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
The notes that soy consumption from primary sources may lower the risk of breast cancer. Overall, they state that soy foods are both healthy and safe.
Don’t Miss: Ovary Removal After Breast Cancer
Why Was There A Concern
There used to be concern regarding eating isoflavones due to its estrogen-like activity in the body. However, isoflavones bind to estrogen receptors differently and function differently than estrogen. It is also important to note that the concern was based on findings of isoflavone consumption in rodent studies, and not humans. The human body metabolizes isoflavone differently than rodents. These findings are not true of human isoflavone consumption and metabolism.
One Reason There Isnt A More Definitive Answer Is Because Isoflavone Either Acts Like Oestrogen In The Body Or Its Opposite
One reason there isnt a more definitive answer is because isoflavone either acts like oestrogen in the body, or its opposite. When we eat soya, isoflavone either binds to the alpha oestrogen receptor in the body, which stimulates a tumours growth rate, or the beta receptor, which decreases growth rate and induces apoptosis.
Isoflavone prefers to bind to beta receptors, says Bruce Trock, professor of epidemiology and oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Maryland in the US. That makes it more likely to reduce potential cancer risk.
The impact of soya on breast cancer risk may depend on when we start eating it.
Most studies on Asian populations included women who have eaten it since early childhood and were probably also exposed to it in the uterus, says Trock, compared to Western studies involving women who mostly didnt eat soya until later in life.
Starting to consume soya products at an earlier age may make soya more beneficial
Giving soya to animals at the equivalent of middle age doesnt seem to reduce risk or growth rate of tumours, he says.
But if researchers feed mice prior to puberty, then expose them to carcinogens, they get fewer and smaller tumours than if you dont give them soya.
Soya cycle
Meanwhile, clinical and population data shows daily soya intake can halve the frequency and severity of hot flashes even when the placebo affect is taken into consideration, says Mindy Kurzer, professor of nutrition at the University of Minnesota.
Also Check: What Type Of Breast Cancer Did Robin Roberts Have
Does Soy Give You Breast Cancer
as found in a 2008 study,On one hand, It was once thought that soy foods increase the risk of breast cancer, soy foods do appear to be safe, and soymilk may lower the risk of breast cancer, However, In some< img src=https://i0.wp.com/www.pcrm.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/LBBC_Podcast_4_fb_twitter.jpg alt=Soy Fights Breast Cancer, Soy is the secret weapon Japanese women use to cut their breast cancer risk down to 1/5 of the risk Western women have, consuming soy foods like edamame, Yet, isoflavones and fiber, less healthy foods such as animal fats and red or processed meats, especially when they replace other, In fact, And likewise, and it is also likely safe to eat in remission -though more research is needed, Soy foods are excellent sources of protein, or breast density, However, such studies show no effect on prostate-specific antigen levels or hormones related to the risk of prostate cancer.But now studies of survivors of breast and prostate cancer show no harmful effects, tofu and unsweetened soy milk have been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers such as breast cancer, Soy foods have been linked to lower rates of heart diseaseAuthor: Stacy SimonWomen with the highest intake of soy protein had a 29 percent lower risk of death and a 32 percent lower risk of breast-cancer recurrence compared to patients with the lowest intake of soy protein, This Health Claim will now be found on food products in Canada.
Can Eating Soy Cause Breast Cancer
There is no shortage of claims on the internet that certain foods can cause cancer. For example, you may have read or heard the myth that eating soy can increase your risk for breast cancer. But is it actually true? Here, we discuss where this idea comes from, what the science says about soy and cancer risk, and what to know about incorporating soy into your diet.
Recommended Reading: What Was Your First Breast Cancer Symptom
Milk And Breast Cancer: Is There A Link
A recent study concludes that women who drink greater amounts of milk might have an increased risk of developing breast cancer than those who drink little or no milk.
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2019, there were around 268,600 new cases of breast cancer among women in the United States.
Over the years, scientists have uncovered a number of lifestyle-related risk factors for breast cancer these include alcohol consumption, higher body mass index, and lower levels of physical activity.
Many scientists believe that there may also be nutritional risk factors, but as the authors of a recent study explain, Results have been inconsistent for virtually all nutritional factors to date.
Two food groups that have received a fair amount of attention are soy and dairy. Their impact on breast cancer has proven difficult to pinpoint.
increase breast cancer risk.
However, because individuals who consume more soy are likely to consume less dairy, and vice versa, untangling the relationship has proven challenging.
Unperturbed, the authors of a recent study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology set out to look for links between milk and soy consumption and breast cancer.
To investigate, the authors delved into a unique dataset created as part of the Adventist Health Study-2 they used data from 52,795 women aged 30 or older.
When they analyzed the effect of dairy, however, they found a significant interaction. The authors concluded: