Soy: it's not just for women anymore - health matters - Brief Article

Better Nutrition, Jan, 2002

You've heard it a million times before--women should incorporate soy into their diets for a variety of health reasons. But now there's convincing research that shows men should dig into the tofu and soy burgers, as well. At the Fourth International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease, held in San Diego in November, researchers unveiled some key insights into the relationship between men and soy. Their findings: Soy may help inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells and stabilize the disease in diagnosed patients. It may also reduce blood pressure, thereby reducing heart disease risk.

According to 2001 statistics from the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second largest cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Fortunately, many of the risk factors are controllable, with diet being an important factor. In 1999, the FDA approved a health claim for soy, stating that the consumption of 25 gm of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease.