Can Soy and Flaxseed Reduce the Risk of Colon Cancer?
Scientific journals and the media have reported extensively over the past 10 years on the link between soy-based foods and breast and prostate cancers. But the relationship between soy and other similar foods and colon cancer has not been described in detail. Soy contains compounds called phytoestrogens, which are naturally occurring compounds in foods that have weak, estrogen-like effects in the body. (The type of phytoestrogens in soy foods receiving the most press is called isoflavones.) Some research suggests that they may help prevent the development of estrogen-dependant cancers, such as breast cancer by blocking estrogen’s effects. Phytoestrogens may also influence the body’s ability to create its own estrogen. Now a Canadian study published in The Journal of Nutrition in December 2006 has found that a greater intake of phytoestrogens is significantly associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer. But it wasn’t just isoflavones that were beneficial. Another group of phytoestrog
