Dr Oz: Soy Lowers Breast Cancer Death Rate
Dr. Oz and Dietician Kristin Kirkpatrick are setting the record straight on soy and whether it is healthy or dangerous. We have all heard information from both sides, but Dr. Oz and Kristin have the answers we have all been waiting to hear about this controversial plant-based protein.
Dr Oz: Soy Controversy – Is it Healthy or Dangerous?
Soy is probably one of those foods you have often wondered about where its safety is concerned, right? I know that I have been confused at times because of the mix of information regarding this controversial food, but Dr. Oz is ready to clear up the confusion for all of us. Kristin Kirkpatrick, a registered dietician and member of Dr. Oz’s medical advisory board says that soy is absolutely good for you. She says that it is a great source of protein and fiber and offers many health benefits.
Dr Oz: Soy Urban Health Legend
Kristin Kirkpatrick says that while people are afraid of eating soy, the negative information is actually a bit of an urban health legend. She explains that this because when people hear that soy comes from plant estrogen, they automatically associate with the estrogen that is found in our bodies, but they are very different.
Dr Oz: Plant Estrogen vs Human Estrogen
Dietician Kristin Kirkpatrick says that there is strong research to show that not only is soy good for you, but it will also lower your risk of breast cancer.
Kristin Kirkpatrick explains that plant estrogen is found in soy, but this type of estrogen is very different than the estrogen found in the human body. The estrogen found in soy that comes from a plant is far less potent than the estrogen in our bodies. She goes on to say that it is even found in other foods like peanuts and green beans, which are both very good for you.
Dr Oz: Soy & Breast Cancer
Studies have actually shown that rather than increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer, soy is helpful to reduce that risk. Drinking 1 cup of soy milk or ½ cup of tofu every day was shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer by 30% in a study of women. Kristin says that there is strong research, especially in Asian populations, supporting the fact that soy is beneficial to reducing a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, as opposed to the opposite negative belief that so many people have regarding soy. She says that the research is still on-going and unclear as to the benefits of soy for women who already have a diagnosis of breast cancer, but she does say that regular soy consumption will lower a woman’s risk of death from breast cancer and it will also lower the recurrence rate of the disease.
Dr Oz: Soy & Heart Disease
Kristin Kirkpatrick says that soy is definitely good for the heart because it is a plant-based source of protein and is loaded with fiber, but there has been some recent research regarding how well soy can help to reduce our LDL (bad) cholesterol. The studies are showing that it might not lower a person’s LDL as much as researchers originally thought it could, but the bottom line, according to Kristin, is that a plant-based protein like soy is far better for your heart than red or processed meats.
Dr Oz: Soy Thyroid Warning
Soy does NOT cause hypothyroidism, but for women who are already on thyroid medicine soy could be dangerous because it can interfere with that medication by affecting your body’s ability to absorb your thyroid medication. Kristin Kirkpatrick says that she tells patients they can still eat soy, but just limit the amount and consume it about 1-2 hours before or after taking a thyroid medication, so it does not cause a negative interaction.
gail says
I have been told that the soy products sold in North America are harmful and can cause allergies and other problems because the soy used here has been so genetically modified. Is this true?