A new study published in the Journal of Oncology shows that consuming high amounts of soy products may help women with lung cancer live longer. Lung cancer is a leading cause of death among women worldwide. The study group was comprised of women living in China. The research found that women who consumed about four ounces of soy per day in the years prior to being diagnosed with lung cancer lived longer than those who did not consume as much soy.
Dr. Jyoti Patel, an associate professor of medicine at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, theorized that the isoflavones in soy can act like selective estrogen modulators (SERMS), similar to the breast cancer-fighting drug tamoxifen. “These SERMS may have a protective effect in lung cancer because we know that estrogen receptors are present in lung cancer and are important in lung development,” Patel said.
Though soy is not typically a staple of Western diets, vegetarians have long since incorporated soy products into their regimens for their flavor flexibility and nutritional benefits, including hefty amounts of protein and calcium. They are also delicious and compassionate alternatives to meat.
For incredible recipes that feature soy foods, such as tofu, tempeh, and soy milk, visit ChooseVeg.com.
