A soy diet includes a variety of foods made from soybean, a legume that contains a complete protein of all essential amino acids, healthy fats, fiber and isoflavones, an antioxidant with estrogen-like properties. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. Eating soy foods may prevent development of cancer. Consult your doctor about your health and eating soy foods.
Soy Foods
People worldwide eat a variety of soy foods that include soy milk, tofu, tempeh and miso. Soy foods are a healthy alternative to dairy and meat products because soy does not contain cholesterol and has negligible amounts of saturated fat. Soy milk is a nutritious beverage that you can drink or eat with cereal and substitute for meals made with milk from cows and goats. You can substitute tofu for meat in many dishes, including meals sautéed in a wok. Tempeh is a fermented soy that is cultured with a fungus and has a nutty texture. You can sauté, grill, bake or steam tempeh and add your favorite sauce. Miso is also fermented and used as a broth for many types of soups and sauces.
Soy Diet and Breast Cancer
Eating a soy-based diet may reduce your risk of breast cancer. Research by scientists at Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea, and published in "Nutrition and Cancer" in 2008 discovered that increasing the total dietary intake of soy foods at a level equivalent to traditional Korean consumption levels may be associated with reducing the risk of breast cancer. The scientists also found that the results are more pronounced for total intake of tofu in premenopausal women. Childhood intake of soy has the most consistent effect for reduced risk of breast cancer later in life, according to research by scientists at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, and published in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention" in 2009.
Soy Diet and Prostate and Urinary Tract Cancers
A soy diet may help you prevent cancers of the prostate gland and urinary tract. Increased isoflavone intake from soy foods is associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer, according to research by scientists at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo, Japan, and published in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention" in 2007. Soy foods may also prevent progression of urinary tract cancer. Research by scientists at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China and published in "Clinical Cancer Research" in 2000 discovered that soybean foods can be used for chemoprevention for patients with urinary tract cancer.
Soy Diet and Colorectal Cancer
Soy foods are also associated with a reduced risk of cancers of the colon and rectum. Research by scientists at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, and published in the "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology" in 2011 discovered that a soy diet is protective against colorectal cancer. The results of the research demonstrate that increasing the amount of soy foods you eat is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer in men and postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Leading Causes of Death; 2009
- "Nutrition and Cancer"; Dietary Intake of Soy Protein and Tofu in Association with Breast Cancer Risk Based on a Case-Control Study; Mi Kyung Kim, et al.; 2008
- "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention"; Childhood Soy Intake and Breast Cancer Risk in Asian American Women; Larissa Korde, et al.; Apr 2009
- "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention"; Soy Product and Isoflavone Consumption in Relation to Prostate Cancer in Japanese Men; Norie Kurahashi, et al.; Mar 2007
- "Clinical Cancer Research"; The Potential of Soybean Foods as a Chemoprevention Approach for Human Urinary Tract Cancer; S.J. Su, et al.; Jan 2000
- "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology"; Soy Food and Isoflavone Intake and Colorectal Cancer Risk: The Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study; Sanjeev Budhathoki, et al.; Feb 2011
