Mon Aug 6, 2001  11:21 am

SOY: THE REAL SCIENCE

Dear Friends,

Here is the third of three SOY articles that
I've recently enjoyed, and find important
enough to share with you:

http://www.drkoop.com/dyncon/article.asp?at=&id=3735

Is soy safe?

Some quotes from the article, written
By Sharon Howard, R.D.

  "Soy products contain five known classes
   of anti-cancer agents, including
   phytoestrogens. Natural soyfood sources
   of phytoestrogens are recommended as part
   of a therapeutic and prophylactic diet
   instead of isoflavone supplements, because
   the foods contain all the potential
   anti-cancer agents ingested by apparently
   protected populations of women with lower
   rates of breast cancer."

Dr. Koop and Sharon looked to the soy-eating
Japanese and Chinese women to find truth:

  "Studies of Chinese and Japanese women
   indicate that they have one fifth the
   rate of breast cancers of U.S. women
   and that they consume from 10 to 50
   grams per day of soy protein in contrast
   to 1 to 3 grams per day consumed by
   Americans. This translates to 20 to 80
   milligrams of isoflavones consumed per
   day by Asian women compared to U.S.
   women whose intake is less than 5
   milligrams per day."

Now for the real science, thanks to Koop.com:

  "Isoflavones are very similar in structure
   to estrogen and are able to bind estrogen
   receptors, though they exhibit only a weak
   estrogenic effect: only one-hundredth to
   one-thousandth that of estradiol. Since
   high levels of estrogen have been linked
   to breast cancer and other hormone-related
   cancers, isoflavones may work by binding
   estrogen receptors and blocking the harmful
   effects of the more potent form of estrogen,
   thus functioning as an overall antiestrogen
  (Claire Hasler, University of Illinois)."

Do you know of a friend or family member with one or more of these milk-related problems? Do them a huge favor and forward the URL or this entire file to them.