WND is full of right wing religious nuts and we all know that they never met a piece of science that they hated. Y'know like the earth being round, that the earth revolves around the sun, etc, etc.
That said, edible soy is a phyto-estrogen and those who may be at risk or have been diagnosed with breast cancer should either not eat soy or only in limited quantities.
Soy Isoflavone supplementsNotable among phytoestrogens is a group of substances called isoflavones. Two of the primary soy isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, are found in many supplements. These may indeed affect the risk of cancer, especially breast cancer. But for better or worse?
• Conflicting results. Almost all of the research on isolated isoflavones has been done on animals or in the test tube. Some animal studies suggest that these substances may help maintain bone strength and inhibit certain cancers. Other studies suggest that it isn't the genistein and daidzein—perhaps not any of the isoflavones—but something else in soy that provides these benefits. And then there have been other studies into various proposed health benefits of soy or soy compounds that have not found a positive effect. Some research has found that the isoflavones may inhibit thyroid function. But no one knows how these animal and test tube studies relate to humans.
• Estrogen-boosting or estrogen-blocking? Though theories about what they do are speculative, isoflavones have potentially contradictory effects. They can act both as estrogens and as anti-estrogens. One theory is that in premenopausal women, who have high hormone levels, phytoestrogens may act as anti-estrogens—that is, block some effects of estrogen—and thus protect against breast cancer (now thought to be promoted by high lifetime estrogen exposure). But after menopause, when estrogen levels are lower, phytoestrogens may act like estrogens, thus relieving hot flashes and other symptoms. It's unknown how potent these phytoestrogens are—far less potent than regular estrogen, certainly.
How Healthy Is Soy?No need to panic. The research linking animal fat to heart disease and cancer are far stronger than those connecting soy to any health problems. So, if you are considering substituting soy for meat or milk, the soybean still shines in comparison, according to Ethan Balk, associate director of the Tufts-New England Medical Center's Evidence-Based Practice Center, who reviewed the studies last year.
But if the question is whether to eat large amounts of soy or take supplements, the answer is far more elusive. Here's what the latest findings suggest:
Soy and Estrogen: Two Great Tastes?It has been speculated that a diet high in soy can have hormonally feminizing effects. This has almost no basis in fact, and really, makes very little sense. The beneficial effects of dietary soy are more related to the fact that it inhibits the action of estrogen, not that it has estrogenic effects itself. These inhibitory effects seem to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) as well as breast and uterine cancer, but only when taken as part of a complete program.
