naturalfoodworks .net

The idea that soy foods can be protective against both breast and prostate cancers has been around for a long time. But a new study, using precise food monitoring techniques, shows increased soy foods intake linked to a 50% decrease in risk from latent, localized prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is on the increase worldwide, possibly as a result of environmental hormone mimickers like chlorine and pesticides in food.

Soy isoflavones in the diet protect against formation of testosterone derived dihydrotestosterone, a dangerous androgen that increases prostate cancer risk.

Soy foods also protect against prostate cancer by stimulating estrogen receptors in prostate tissues. Unfortunately, prostate estrogen receptors appear to be destroyed by advanced, invasive prostate cancer. This may explain data showing, in both rats and humans, that soy is not protective, and may be contra-indicated, once prostate cancer has become advanced.

The five year study involved 42,509 Japanese men who used a validated food frequency questionnaire. The study was published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention.