According to an article in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, high soy consumption could actually increase breast cancer risk among U.S. women. Researchers said that, while the benefits of soy consumption for cardiovascular health have been confirmed, there is no evidence that soy foods improve breast health, particularly in non-Asian women.
They interviewed 452 women with family histories of breast cancer about how frequently they consumed soy and why. One third of women at high risk regularly consume soy-based foods. The most common reason, they reported, was to have a healthy diet. Forty-five percent said they believed soy foods reduced cancer risk.
Among the women who did not eat soy, 7 percent said it was because the plant estrogens in soy foods could promote breast cancer, and some said a clinician had instructed them not to eat soy foods for this reason.
1. Where are all the mixed conceptions about soy coming from? I have heard that soy was healthier and that it was good for the heart, but never anything about cancer. It is weird how we change so many things to prevent chronic illnesses, but are still open to acquiring one of them.
Posted at 9:32AM on Nov 17th 2005 by Netra