Soy does not cause breast cancer. No matter what you read on the internet, or hear in line at the coffee shop, there is no evidence of a link between cancer and eating or drinking soy.
The suspicions about soy and breast cancer arise because soy has a plant-based form of estrogen in it. Estrogen inside a woman’s body can be linked to some breast cancers which use hormones to grow. But Krista Maruschak, a registered dietician at The Cleveland Clinic, says that this is not a cause for worry. “It does have a plant estrogen in it, but this is very different from the estrogen that is inside our bodies.”
Even for people who have estrogen-positive breast cancer, consuming up to three servings of whole soy products a day is still OK, according to Maruschak. Because soy is a plant-based protein source, it’s perfectly healthy to incorporate into a balanced diet, especially for those who are looking to cut down on how much meat they’re eating.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Krista Maruschak MS, RD, LD is a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center. Read More
Soy does not cause breast cancer. No matter what you read on the internet, or hear in line at the coffee shop, there is no evidence of a link between cancer and eating or drinking soy.
The suspicions about soy and breast cancer arise because soy has a plant-based form of estrogen in it. Estrogen inside a woman’s body can be linked to some breast cancers which use hormones to grow. But Krista Maruschak, a registered dietician at The Cleveland Clinic, says that this is not a cause for worry. “It does have a plant estrogen in it, but this is very different from the estrogen that is inside our bodies.”
Read More Even for people who have estrogen-positive breast cancer, consuming up to three servings of whole soy products a day is still OK, according to Maruschak. Because soy is a plant-based protein source, it’s perfectly healthy to incorporate into a balanced diet, especially for those who are looking to cut down on how much meat they’re eating.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Krista Maruschak MS, RD, LD is a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center. Read More
