Are you avoiding soy due to fear of hormonal cancers?

I have had several friends tell me that they avoid soy products (edamame, tofu, tempeh, miso, and soy milk) due to the plant estrogens that they fear contribute to hormone-related cancers such as breast, uterine and ovarian in women and prostate in men.

However, numerous scientific studies indicate that soy products actually reduce the risk of these cancers and may even improve the prognosis for individuals who have been diagnosed.

The "plant estrogens" (phytoestrogens) found in soy are structurally different from mammalian estrogens. They bind to estrogen receptors, but they act much differently than the estrogen our body produces. In many cases, they act to block stronger, potentially harmful estrogenic activity.

If you have been avoiding soy out of fear, I encourage you to look at the latest research from reputable sources like the American Institute for Cancer Research, which confirms that moderate consumption of traditional soy foods is safe, and often beneficial, even for breast cancer survivors.