The relationship between certain foods and cancer is still being investigated. One food source which may have some effect at preventing cancer is soy. Consuming products that are made from soy, including soy milk, may be able to help to lower your risk of developing certain kinds of cancer, including prostate, breast and lung cancer.
Prostate Cancer
Soy milk may be able to help treat or prevent prostate cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, soy products may be able to lower the levels of a protein known as Prostate Specific Antigen, or PSA. Prostate Specific Antigen levels often rise when men develop prostate cancer, and this marker is sometimes used to screen men for prostate cancer. Consumption of soy products, including soy milk, may either lower PSA levels or slow their increase, which suggests that soy milk could affect the development of prostate cancer. More research, however, is needed to determine if products such as soy milk can prevent prostate cancer or improve the survival of men who have prostate cancer.
Breast Cancer
Soy milk may also be able to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence in women who have already reached menopause, USA Today reports. Soy protein contains chemicals known as isoflavones, which are similar in structure to estrogen. Although estrogen can stimulate the growth of some forms of breast cancer, post-menopausal women who have been treated for breast cancer and consume a high amount of soy protein may be less likely to have the cancer come back. Researchers do not know what the mechanism is for this protective effect, and it does not appear to be true for women who have had breast cancer but have not yet reached menopause. Although you should avoid consuming large amounts of soy protein, such as soy supplements, up to three servings of soy milk or other sources of this protein are considered safe.
Lung Cancer
The isoflavones found in products such as soy milk may also play a role in your risk of lung cancer, Reuters notes. Men who do not smoke and consume a large amount of soy protein have a lower risk of developing lung cancer. It is not known, however, if this is directly due to the effects of soy or if men who consume large amounts of soy also have other habits or lifestyle attributes which cause a decreased risk in lung cancer.
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