< previous page | page_100 | next page >
Page 100
| gen levels are one risk factor for breast cancer; eating foods high in fiber and estrogen-supplanting phytoestrogens helps reduce blood estrogen. One study showed that premenopausal women who consumed high amounts of soy foods, along with betacarotene and polyunsaturated fats, had only half as much risk of developing breast cancer as women who consumed high amounts of animal protein. |
| Men and Soy |
| Soy may do wonders for men as well. A diet abundant in soy-rich foods seems to help reduce levels of the male hormone testosterone, which may spur the growth of cancerous cells in the prostate gland. |
| Tips: |
| Raw soybeans, including soybean sprouts, contain a toxin that must be destroyed by thorough cooking before eating. Soak soybeans for at least five hours before cooking, then boil them in fresh water for at least two hours. |
| When cooking with tofu or other soy products, add them at the end of cooking time. Cooking soy products at high temperatures for extended periods may destroy some of the nutrients. Miso, soy sauce, and soybean oil lack the benefits of other soy products. |
| You're best off buying full-fat soy products, such as soy milk, because they contain much higher amounts of beneficial phytoestrogens. |
| Soy milk contains phytoestrogens but little fiber or calcium. |
< previous page | page_100 | next page >