BeanDiet

Are the short daylight hours getting to you yet? I'm sure feeling them. But something to look forward to for those of you who live in the Sacramento region: I'll be speaking at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op on Jan. 20th. As always, my lecture is free (but please preregister on the SNFC website beforehand). And as always, you can purchase a copy of my book and use the $5 off coupon in the store! I'll be speaking on lowering blood pressure and weight loss, starting at 6:30pm.

If you still haven't bought a copy of my book, you can always purchase a signed copy at www.fiber-girl.com, or at Amazon.com (unsigned).

For those of you who like to plan ahead, I'll also be speaking at the SNFC learning center to members of the Sacramento Vegetarian Society (SVS) on March 21st at 5:30. Even though this is for members of the SVS, it's open to everyone, veggie or not, just preregister by contacting sacveggie@hotmail.com. This event includes dinner! I'll be selling and signing books here as well.

Now, on to the latest research... I usually don't copy info straight from the PCRM (Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine) website, but as I read the original study online, I found this to be the best synopsis:

Soy Boosts Survival in Breast Cancer Patients

Soy consumption improves breast cancer survival, according to a report in the Dec. 9, 2009 Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers found that women diagnosed with breast cancer who consume soy products, such as tempeh, tofu, or edamame, have a 32 percent lower risk of cancer recurrence and a 29 percent decreased risk of death, compared with women who consume little or no soy. The report included 5,042 women in the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, the largest population-based study of breast cancer survival, and followed them for a four-year period.

The beneficial association of soy foods was evident among women with either estrogen receptor–positive or –negative breast cancer and was present in both users and nonusers of the drug tamoxifen.

In the past, soy has been a controversial topic for cancer patients. However, an editorial accompanying this new study suggests that inconsistencies in prior research may be attributable to the comparatively low soy consumption in the United States, making beneficial effects harder to identify. In China, soy intake is higher and diets tend to include traditional food sources of soy, rather than soy supplements.

In the conclusion of the study, the authors state: Among women with breast cancer, soy food consumption was significantly associated with decreased risk of death and recurrence.

Shu XO, Zheng Y, Cai H, et al. Soy food intake and breast cancer survival. JAMA. 2009;302:2437-2443.

Ballard-Barbash R, Neuhouser ML. Challenges in design and interpretation of observational research on health behaviors and cancer survival. JAMA. 2009;302:2483-2484.

I would like to add a couple of comments on this study.

First, I absolutely agree with the authors that the benefits of soy are from foods, not supplements.

Second, I believe the best soy-based foods are the least processed ones: tempeh, tofu, edamame, etc.

Third, Trader Joe's is now carrying organic tempeh (which means the soybeans are not genetically modified) at a GREAT price! Fried tempeh is great on sandwiches, with hummus, and avocado. I put soy, or tamari sauce on mine when I fry it. Yummy, and so filling!