"Does drinking soy milk cause cancer?" This claim has been popular for a long time, because soy products contain large amounts of phytoestrogens, which may trigger breast cancer in women. Women who have already developed breast cancer are also afraid to drink soy milk, worrying it will aggravate their condition. However, a large-scale survey report published in the latest issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" has recently comprehensively refuted these claims.
A large-scale survey involving 9,514 breast cancer patients from China and the US, with an average follow-up of 7.4 years and participated in by the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, found that the intake of soy isoflavones not only does not cause cancer, but also helps reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and death. Zheng Ying, director of the Cancer Prevention and Treatment Department of the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told the media that soy products are one of the main sources of protein for Chinese women, while American women rarely consume soy products. Therefore, the difference in soy product intake has aroused the interest of researchers from both China and the US regarding its impact on breast cancer prognosis. Zheng Ying said that among the patients participating in this survey, 5,042 were Chinese breast cancer patients. From 2002, the center followed these people until June 2009. In the study, they found that compared to those with the lowest soy protein intake, patients with the highest soy protein intake had a 29% lower risk of death and a 32% lower risk of breast cancer recurrence. Subsequently, the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention released the above data. The research team clearly found that the intake of soy products can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and death.
In recent years, the incidence of breast cancer has indeed shown a clear upward trend. So, what is the reason for the high incidence of breast cancer? Through the analysis of dietary factors, it was found that excessive fat intake may be a major cause. Epidemiological data shows that the amount of fat intake is positively correlated with the incidence of breast cancer. Moreover, vegetable oils are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Case-control studies have shown that the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids is positively correlated with the risk of breast cancer.
Daily intake of 30 to 50 grams of soy and its products is not only safe but also necessary.
Soy and its products are a good source of dietary protein. The previous daily intake of soy and its products among Chinese residents was 8 to 13 grams, which has not yet reached the standard of 30 to 50 grams recommended by the Chinese Nutrition Society, and is considered a low intake. In 1980, when fat intake was low, the initial national mortality rate for breast cancer was 2.94/100,000, and in 2006 it was 8.16/100,000. However, the significant increase in the incidence of breast cancer during this period is not positively correlated with the intake of soy and its products.
400 grams of soy milk is approximately equivalent to 50 grams of soy and its products. Since this amount is within the standard range established by the Chinese Nutrition Society and announced by the Ministry of Health, it is not only safe but also necessary. Therefore, people can drink soy milk without worry and without too much concern.