Women may have another weapon in the fight against breast cancer: soy.

Scientific research in Texas has found a soy product diet rich in isoflavones reduces estrogens in women, "and this may be involved in soya-induced protection against breast cancer risk."

In a presentation to the American Association for Cancer Research, Dr. Lee-Jane W. Lu, of the University of Texas medical branch in Galveston, discussed her investigation of the effect of soy consumption on breast cancer. Previous research, she said, had demonstrated that soy intake was associated with a reduced risk for breast cancer, which is dependent on estrogen.

The research team found blood levels of measured estrogens were reduced by 30 percent to 40 percent in women who consumed soy products.

"Reducing estrogen reduces breast cell proliferation," Lu said. "This may help explain why soybean consumption seems to protect against breast cancer."

Lu said her research can help explain earlier studies showing women in Asia, where diets contain high concentrations of soy products, have much lower rates of breast cancer than women in the United States, for example.

With October being National Breast Cancer awareness month, why not incorporate some soy products into your diet? Some examples:

• Tofu
• Soybean Oil
• Soy Milk
• Miso
• Tempeh
• Whole Soybeans
• Soy Flour
• Soy Protein Isolate
• Texturized Soy Protein
• Soy Protein Concentrates

For information on recipes and ways to use soy products visit the United Soybean Board's Web site at www.talksoy.com.

Copyright 1999 Health Resources Publishing