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Soy Foods Fine for Cancer Survivor

Q. Is soy good or bad for an overweight breast cancer survivor? I’ve heard both.
A. Breast cancer survivors have sometimes been warned to avoid soy-based foods because of the natural estrogen-like compounds soy contains. A recent study of survivors from Shanghai, China, showed that is not necessary. In fact, women in this study who ate the most tofu, miso and other soy foods were less likely to experience a recurrence of their breast cancer than those who ate the least soy-based foods (Journal of the American Medical Association, Dec. 9, 2009).
Experts caution that this good news may not apply to supplements containing soy compounds such as genistein. You should be able to enjoy miso soup, tofu and tempeh without worry.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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