Soy, The Prostate Protector

There used to be a time when only women were interested in soy. Well not anymore. Recently, it was found that increased intake of soy isoflavones significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer by as much as 50%. With over 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year, having soy in your diet may be a good step towards the prevention of prostate cancer.

How can soy have such a profound effect on prostate cancer? Soy isoflavones may reduce testosterone levels and inhibit an enzyme involved in the metabolism of testosterone. It is this hormone that may increase prostate cancer risk. But before you start reaching for your wife or girlfriend’s “made for her” soy-fortified foods, know this: these results occur in men eating whole soy foods, such as edamame, tofu, tempeh and miso. These are things that you should add to your diet if you are a man over the age of 60. Your prostate will thank you.

While some recent studies have raised concerns about soy's safety profile, most nutritionists agree that in moderation (up to 25 g of soy protein per day), whole soy foods are safe and beneficial. If you prefer to avoid soy, you can use other foods and supplements for prostate protection such as saw palmetto, pygeum, vitamins D and E, boron and cruciferous vegetables.