We can keep cancer and other serious conditions at bay by simply eating the right natural foods, such as soybeans

Nov 18, 2006 15:56 GMT  ·  By

A 'collage' of studies presented at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting held in Boston recently have highlighted the crucial role nutrition plays in one's life, because what one eats daily may increase or significantly cut risk for common cancers and other serious conditions. All experts present at the meeting recommended that people should grow more aware of the fact that adopting an appropriate and healthy diet associated with staying active and an overall healthy lifestyle is all they need to prevent further health disorders and problems. Therefore, instead of leading a disorderly, 'messy' life and encountering all kinds of problems later in life, individuals should understand that preventing is way more easy than treating.

Dr. Alan Kristal of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, the moderator of the meeting's diet and cancer session pointed out: "The more we know about cancer, the more it's clear that diet is related to cancer. But the relationship is complex. Diet and cardiovascular disease is simple compared to diet and cancer because the risk factors differ for different cancers."

One of the studies presented at the Boston meeting provided strong evidence for the fact that women who eat large amounts of soy since childhood are significantly less likely of developing breast cancer symptoms throughout their whole life than their peers who do not pay enough attention to nutrition. The study on soy and the natural food's long term benefits on women health has been carried out by a team of researchers at the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

The trial was conducted on 1,563 Asian-American women with or without breast cancer symptoms. 966 of the subjects had been breast cancer patients, while 597 did not develop symptoms of the particular type of cancer. Overall results of the tests and investigations showed that women who reported eating soy during childhood - about two servings of the food per week - were 58% less likely to become afflicted with breast cancer than their peers who did not consume soy when children.

Lead researcher of the current study, Dr. Larissa Korde of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, stated: "This is the first study to look at childhood soy exposure and the later risk of breast cancer. It suggests that there really is a biologic effect for soy, and we're excited about that."

She also explained that it is highly recommended that all young girls consume large amounts of soy during childhood, as exposure to estrogen-like substances at am early age causes breast tissue to become 'immune' to carcinogens later in life:

"The hypothesis is that exposure to estrogen-like substances early in life can cause changes in developing breast tissue that decreases its sensitivity to carcinogenesis later in life. For example, obesity earlier in life seems to decrease the risk of premenopausal breast cancer (because fat tissue also secretes estrogens). But it's been well-documented that hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of post-menopausal breast cancer."

Other studies run before the American Association for Cancer Research meeting took place also found that soy intake is very beneficial for human health. A study conducted earlier this year by researchers at the Universidad de Chile found that isoflavones compounds in soy are very potent in fighting against clots that form into our blood vessels. Blood clots may bring about severe health problems and even death.

"The only unexpected finding relative to thrombotic cardiovascular disease risk factors concerned platelet TxA2 receptor density, which significantly decreased after three months of isoflavones supplementation," pointed out Chile researchers. Platelets are one of the main components of blood which tend to form blood clots; when an injure occurs, the platelets seal up the injured area and prevent excessive hemorrhage in that region, speeding the lesion's healing.

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