Soy and cancer risk: Expert advice

Soybeans are known to be a very good food for humans, especially women. However, there are some people who fear and believe that soy consumption is linked to breast cancer risk.

Today, soybeans are commonly used in the daily diet in many different forms such as soy milk, tofu, ... because this is a food rich in protein and very low in fat, can be used used as an alternative to other protein sources from protein.
So should we continue to eat more soy or limit this food, because there is some misunderstanding that soy can increase the risk of breast cancer? Here are harmful soy myths related to breast cancer risk and advice from the experts.

There is a misconception that all soy foods increase the risk of breast cancer, because researchers found that some rodents consume a lot of foods containing the compound isoflavones - is a common compound in soybeans, with a high risk of breast cancer.
The reason why isoflavones are thought to increase the risk of breast cancer is because they act like estrogen in the body and estrogen is known to promote breast cancer formation and growth. Women with breast cancer were found to be very sensitive to estrogen.
However, it is important to understand that the mechanism of isoflavones consumption in other animals and humans is very different. Currently, there is no research that confirms soy increases the risk of breast cancer. In contrast, studies have also shown that drinking soy or eating a lot of soy reduces the risk of disease.
Around the world, Asian women consume the most soy in various forms such as tofu, soy sauce, milk, etc. Studies have shown that the rate of breast cancer is very high. low for women in Asian countries. Even experts say that soy is part of a healthy diet. In addition, there are not many studies that show that consuming large amounts of soy increases the risk of breast cancer. However, like any other food, eating or drinking too much can cause some health problems, so can soy.
Experts recommend consuming soy in moderation to reduce the risk of breast cancer. 1-2 servings of foods made from soy such as tofu, soy milk should be consumed every day, because they provide protein for the body.

Some researchers believe that isoflavones found in soy can prevent estrogen from attaching to breast cancer cells and causing them to grow instead of thinking that they promote breast cancer cell growth.
Studies conducted on Asian women of various ages show that the body does not process soy equally at all ages. Postmenopausal women may need more soy to replenish the dwindling estrogen in their bodies.
Women who have taken soy supplements since puberty have not found evidence of an increased risk of soy disease.

Moderate consumption of soy not only reduces the risk of disease but also helps prevent breast cancer from coming back. However, eating more soy than recommended can cause breast cancer to develop.
Therefore, experts recommend that women with breast cancer avoid soy foods, because they can reduce the effect of drugs to treat the disease and increase estrogen levels.

There are many types of breast cancer and soy isoflavones are important contributors to estrogen-sensitive breast cancers. Some early research shows that soy reduces the risk of other types of breast cancer.
Because of the controversy surrounding soy and the risk of breast cancer, experts say that more research needs to be done to come to a conclusion and affirmation. Even if a woman eats and drinks a lot of soy but has a healthy lifestyle, the likelihood of disease is not affected.
Until more research confirms soy increases breast cancer risk, experts recommend that women include soy in their healthy diet in moderate amounts to reduce the risk of breast cancer. disease rate.
Once you have a clear understanding of the issue of eating and drinking soy and its relationship to breast cancer, you can consider and adjust your diet accordingly and ensure the best health.
Currently, breast cancer is a dangerous disease with a high incidence, so maintaining a healthy diet and performing regular health checks is extremely necessary.
To detect breast cancer early, you should have regular breast cancer screening, especially the group of people over 40 years old, who are at high risk of this disease. Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Breast Cancer Screening Package that helps patients detect this dangerous cancer early even when there are no symptoms.
When registering for a breast cancer screening package, customers will receive:
Examination and consultation with an oncologist. Breast cancer screening by bilateral breast ultrasound and mammogram. All examination procedures are performed by a team of doctors with many years of experience, combined with a system of modern machinery and equipment. Therefore, customers can be assured of the quality of examination at Vinmec.

Reference source: cancer.org - webmd.com