Estrogen in tofu

Common Questions and Answers about Estrogen in tofu

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I was a regular consumer of soy milk, tofu, edamame and flax seed after menopause. After my diagnosis of breast cancer (estrogen positive) my oncologist recommended I avoid soy products because even the weak phytoestrogens may stimulate cancer cells. Research is not conclusive but better to be safe. As the addage goes, 'all things in moderation.

I didn't hesitate at 11 months on the tofu, but did watch the amount of salt in the seasonings usually used to make tofu less bland. (I.e., tofu was OK but not soy sauce.) We did some of the Gerber's natural line (can't remember what it is called, but there was one with chicken and wild rice that he liked). But really what my son would eat then were small chunks of things like ham, chicken, sliced olives, little chunks of tomato, and little chunks of cucumber.

Various studies have been done looking at the different components of soy which have both estrogen like and estrogen blocking features which is what makes the data confusing. Overall, the current data are insufficient to draw definite conclusions about the use of soy as preventive agent against breast cancer or breast cancer recurrence. As to the term moderation, in Dr.

I am 50 years old and was diagnosed with estrogen positive breast cancer stage 1 with no lymph nodes affected. I am currently on tamoxifen. I am overwhelmed as to what to eat. I get even more confused each day. I have stopped eating red meat. What are the foods i should avoid, and can i eat soy for my stage? Also what about flax seeds?

As for estrogen, yes, it is true that people with more body fat usually have higher estrogen levels. I think tofu helps increase estrogen.

The benefits, however, are many with respect to reducing recurrence and second primary breast cancers. Eating tofu or other soy products is actually not a way to block estrogen. In fact, large amounts of these products is contraindicated in women with breast cancer. Whether the estrogen is natural or chemical it is still estrogen. By eating large quantities of soy, you are potentially providing estrogen to your breast tissue.

Depending on the coagulant used in manufacturing, the tofu may also be high in calcium (important for bone development and maintenance), and magnesium (especially important for athletes). Tofu also contains soy isoflavones, which can mimic natural human estrogens and may have a variety of harmful or beneficial effects when eaten in sufficient quantities.

Hi, The issue with soy is that it contains chemicals that are very similar to estrogens. If the breast cancer is estrogen receptor positive, some of the treatments(Tamoxifen and others)) that are given work by blocking estrogen production. By ingesting other estrogens, there is a theoretical concern that a person could be interfering with the therapeutic effect of reducing estrogen and, in fact, give the tumor the food it needs to grow.

This is just my opinion but any processed soy could mess with your normal hormone levels as it is like estrogen can mess with your estrogen levels. Any natural soy should be ok.

I found I couldn't drink soy milk because the phyto-estrogens in soy made mine hurt. Could you try easing off soy products for a while and see if it helps? (You'd be surprised how many things soy is in, besides tofu and the like.) Also, my DH's mom says caffeine makes hers hurt, and she avoids it especially before she goes for her mammogram. Good luck!

So phytoestrogens have only partial estrogen effects. Now real estrogen -in excess- has been associated with the development of certain cancers including breast and endometrial (cancer of the lining of the uterus). The data on estrogen and ovarian cancer is quite mixed.

any BCP w/ estrogen has the potential to increase thyroxine requirement. -- would retest TSH 6-8 weeks after starting the BCP -- the timing does not matter -- it's the effect of the estrogen in the blood increasing thyroid-binding-globulin. It's fine to take both these meds, but you are right that BCP can alter thyroid med requirements.

Although early evidence was mixed, black cohosh does not appear to have direct estrogenic effects and women with a history of breast cancer can safely use it. Whole soy foods. As you may know, soy foods contain plant estrogens, and Japanese women whose diets contain soy experience fewer hot flashes. Although we continue to investigate the role of soy (other elements of the Japanese diet and lifestyle may play a part), adding soy to your diet may help.

Often I trace the recurrence of a period to having eaten soy, such as tofu. I think I must be very estrogen sensitive. I do not take any hormones at all and never have.I do not smoke. What is up with this and is there anybody else in my boat? I am healthy and get regular check ups.

In recent years there has been a lot of buzz, both positive and negative, about soy and it's relation to fertility. Tofu and soy are excellent sources of protein during pregnancy. Soy foods contain plant-derived estrogen, known as phytoestrogens. These come in different forms and have different effects. Some may function similarly to estrogens in the body, producing a very weak effect compared to the real thing. And others act as antiestrogens, to reduce the activity of estrogen.

What are some foods other than isoflavinoid Tofu, that may prevent BC ?

Common reasons for fluctuations: interfering meds, change in estrogen status (menopause/meds), supplements which change absorption, getting different brands/generics of thyroid meds, missing doses. Go over your med list and supplements with your thyroid specialist to see what may be the cause. Also, avoid generic thyroid meds and stick with one brand.

400mg B6 500mg B12 800mg Vit E 2000mg Vit D 1500mg Calcium 1000 Magnesium 500mg Black Cohosh 400mg Folic Acid 1000mg Evening Primrose Oil 500mg Grape Seed Extract (antidioxidant) I do this daily, plus eat tofu daily, drink soy milk, eat flax seed on everything... and some of the flashes and that crushing fatique, nausea, headaches lessen a bit.

I do eat (in moderation) soy products, mostly tempeh (fermented soy), tofu and maybe some soy milk in my coffee. I've heard from several people that I will have to cut out all soy products because it interferes with the medication and is a huge contributing factor to my hypo. Is this true? Should someone suffering from Hashi not consume any soy? Or is it just a matter of only eating it a few hours after you take your synthroid to not interfere with absorption?

After a median 4 years' follow-up, women in the highest quartile of soy consumption (for example, tofu, soy milk, or fresh soy beans) showed lower hazard ratios for total mortality (0.71) and recurrence (0.68), relative to those in the lowest quartile. The effect was noted in both estrogen-receptor–positive and –negative tumors, and with early- and late-stage cancers.

For years, nutritionists have touted the health benefits of soy. But now some believe this protein alternative could present a real danger since it is found in a large number of foods we eat Lenore Nolan-Ryan, who owns a catering company in Lauderdale by the Sea and is a personal chef to many clients, loves to cook soy.

Hi I have also read that flaxseed is contraindicated for estrogen based cancers. I have a friend who is a breast cancer survivor and a health food nut and she will NOT use flax seed.I would consult with a doc who is conversant in natural medicine, if I wanted to be certain.....

There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that the consumption of soy in Asia has had any deleterious effects on anyone, and their large populations would seem to put the lie to the concern of estrogen affecting men. And most of the soy eaten in most countries is tofu and roasted soy beans, not fermented soy. Only in Indonesia is most soy consumption fermented, because they prefer tempeh to tofu.

The only questions have been raised in the US, where soy is a challenge to meat as a protein source. And again, soy doesn't contain estrogen. It is estrogenic, which is completely different. That generally means that the body might make more estrogen from the food, but only if the body sees a need for it. And again, since flax and soy have been associated, rightly or wrongly, with increased prostate cancer, if they were in fact creating more estrogen, that should reduce prostate cancer.

don't feed Children or adults Soy!! they even have it in Tea Soy is not the health food that you think it is. From tofu and tacos to baby formula and burgers, soy products have swept the nation as a healthy source of protein, with a reputation for being all natural and good for you.

Granted, in Indonesia, it's mostly tempeh, but in China and Japan it's mostly tofu, which is not fermented, soy milk, which is not fermented, edamame, which is not fermented. Miso is eaten in very small quantities. I've been hearing this negative information on soy for so long, but it defies common sense. Japanese live the longest of anyone on Earth, and they eat tofu and edamame nearly every day. Now, are there people who shouldn't eat soy? Yes -- it's a common allergen, for one thing.

For example, today when I woke up groggy and cranky (after sleeping ten hours) I reached for water, a multi-vitamin, caffeine (as I had caffeine withdrawals), and ordered Pad Broccoli, with no salt. This delicious meal consisted of broccoli, carrots, and onions in a garlic sauce, with jasmin rice. Oh, and tofu, which we all know the benefits of. Lots of water. I will take an iron supplement I have lying around somewhere as well. I know this may be a sign of something serious, I've read it all.

Since I was a tiny little thing I was given a lot of soy products (especially tofu) and It was basically all I ate for 15 years. I was unaware of the effects it has on estrogen etc. at the time but I began to research last summer because I noticed my boobs were like really not proportionate with the rest of my body. I'm extremely skinny. I'm about 5'1 and 85 pounds, and that's normal for me because my whole familys like that.

But, I digress - anyway, they had these Fact or Fiction type quiz right before a commercial break and I think I remember learning that sweet potatoes stimulate estrogen so that it could help you release more than one egg. So, of course I put that on my list of things to eat .... DH had stalked over and shut the tv off so I can't remember specifics. Anyway, going to get some yams....maybe some tofu too.... Congrats congrats again !

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