Health Benefits Of Soy and Breast Health

So why do we read that soy isn’t healthful for all women? There has been widespread debate about soy products and their effects on health, particularly breast health. The results of studies have shown conflicting results, but continuing research on the subject is helping to clarify some issues. For example, there is a body of research showing that soy is beneficial to your heart because it lowers triglycerides and cholesterol, particularly LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. There is also evidence that soy may support bone health by inhibiting bone resorption, or calcium loss from your bones. In addition, soy products have been shown to ease menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes.

The controversy about soy generally centers around breast health. Studies on how soy affects a woman’s breast tissue have looked at the estrogen-like effects of the soy-derived isoflavones genistein and daidzein. However, these isoflavones have weak estrogenic properties compared with the estrogen naturally produced by a woman’s own body.
Interestingly, other studies have associated lowered risk of adult breast cancer with adolescent consumption of isoflavone-rich soy. In other words, the age of exposure to isoflavones may be an important factor in reaping their protective benefits. Still, animal and test-tube studies on soy isoflavones have shown that they could increase the proliferation of breast cancer cells.