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Nov 12, 2009 10:45 am US/Central
Questioning Soy Products And Cancer
Once Thought Of As Superfood That Helped Prevent The Disease Is Now Thought Of As Helping Increase The Risk
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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After 10 years of being touted as "the" superfood, soy-based products are all over the supermarket. (File)
AP
After 10 years of being touted as "the" superfood, soy-based products are all over the supermarket.
But now new reports link soy to breast cancer.
How could a food that's gained considerable attention for preventing disease actually increase your risk of a certain cancer?
"I have soy milk with my cereal. I eat edamame as a snack," Doris Fezekas said.
"I stay away from it," added Tammy Bender.
Welcome to the great soy debate. On one side are women like Fezekas, a diabetic, because they believe it's good for them. reports CBS station WCBS-TV.
"I love soy chips," Fezekas said.
On the other side are women like Tammy Bender, a breast cancer survivor, who believe it's bad for them.
"I don't want to take the chance," Bender said.
It's the soy dilemma. One day the research says it can do everything from reduce your risk of certain cancers to promote healthy bones. The next, questions are being raised about the true benefits of this little bean and warnings that eating too much of it may have serious side effects.
"To date, the findings are not conclusive so there has not been any clear cut recommendation on the use of soy let alone supplementation," nutritionist Nicolette Pace said.
Pace says it's true that soy is an excellent and healthy source of protein -- which the Food and Drug Administration has touted as good for the heart since 1999.
"Because it is a plant, it's low in cholesterol," Pace said.
But several new studies suggest that eating a lot of soy -- in particular highly processed soy -- and soy supplements may actually promote the growth of some pre-existing breast cancers, especially in post-menopausal women.
"A higher dose of soy, such as you might see in a diet with supplements, will cause the breast cells to increase their growth rate," said Dr. Michael Osborne, director of breast cancer programs at Beth Israel Medical Center.
Osborne explains when cells begin to increase their growth rate there are greater opportunities for them to grow into cancer.
"The general principle, if soy is good, more is better, is wrong," Osborne said.
Until further research is done Osborne recommends avoiding soy supplements entirely and eating no more than two servings of whole soy foods a day.
But for some, like Bender, she's eliminating soy from her diet completely.
"This is my life and you just don't want to take that chance," Bender said.
Bottom line, everything in moderation.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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