Soy and Prostate Health: Understanding the Connection

Question
I have a high PSA level and have it checked yearly.  I have read that soy products may be
harmful to my prostate.  Is this true?  I eat
tempeh and tofu several times a week.

Thanks for your help.

Don  

Answer
Hi Don,

I'm not surprised you are confused about the safety of soyfoods. There is a lot of misinformation about soy on the internet these days!

Recent research suggests that soy may help prevent prostate cancer by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
Also, it is worth noting that Asian men, who consume significant amounts of soyfoods, develop only 3.4 percent of the number of prostate cancers that American men do.

It is considered generally safe for the vast majority of individuals to consume 2-3 servings of soyfoods per day.

If you would like some more information about the safety of soy, I suggest the following:

www.wellnessletter.com/html/wl/2002/wlfeatured1102.html

www.veganoutreach.org/health/soysafe.html

Hope that helps!

Karen