Soy is an Asian annual legume widely grown for its protein-rich seeds. In fact, soy is higher in protein and edible oils than other legumes. It is also a rich source of isoflavones, chemicals with estrogenic activity. In recent times, soy isoflavones have received considerable scientific attention for their possible health benefits in breast cancer. However, scientists do not yet know the extent of the benefit and the optimal dosage. Consult with your doctor before you decide to add soy foods to your diet.
Soy Composition
Soy has a high nutritious value. It contains fiber, carbohydrate, polyunsaturated fats and fiber, as well as vitamins, minerals and salts. Soy is high in lecithin and phospholipids. Soybean oil provides two essential fatty acids -- such as linoleic and linolenic acids, which cannot be generated in your body. Soy also contains substances, such as isoflavones, which are not nutrients but possess healthful properties.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor found in the breast. It is the second leading cause of death from cancer among women in the United States, according to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Your chance of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. Doctors recommend routine screenings for middle-aged or older women. Breast cancer is rare among men. It affects about 1,600 men each year in the United States.
Negative Effects of Soy on Breast Cancer
The chemical structure of isoflavonoid compounds in soy shares some critical similarities to the natural female sex hormone estrogen. As a result, soy isoflavones can attach to estrogen receptors as the human estrogen and mimic its effects on the body. Soy isoflavones may raise natural estrogen cycles in women. It's generally agreed that estrogen spurs breast tumor growth. This could be of concern in women who are at high risk for breast cancer.
Positive Effects of Soy on Breast Cancer
Proponents of soy argue that soy isoflavones exhibit a weak estrogenic effect, functioning as overall anti-estrogens. Soy isoflavones can inhibit the progression of breast cancer by blocking the harmful effects of the body's own estrogen, according to a 2010 study at the University at Buffalo.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Soy
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: Breast Cancer
- Cornell University: Sprecher Institute: Phytoestrogens and Breast Cancer
- Columbia University Health Sciences: Estrogen's Role in Cancer; Susan Conova; 2010
- University at Buffalo: Soy Isoflavones Decrease Risk of Invasive Breast Cancer, Large Breast Tumors, Study Shows; Anne Weaver; 2010
