Weight loss and diet plan for a healthy lifestyle.

BREAST CANCER PREVENTION: EATING PHYTO-OESTROGENS AND FIBRE INTAKE

Eat phyto-oestrogens

Phyto-oestrogens are a group of foods which contain substances that have a hormone-like action. Soya beans, for instance, contain phyto-chemicals known as isoflavones which make up about 75 per cent of the soya protein. In the human gut, bacteria convert isoflavones into compounds that can have an oestrogenic action, although they are not hormones. These phyto-oestrogens seem to fit into oestrogen receptors on breast cancer cells but are probably too weak to stimulate the cells. What seems to happen is that these weak oestrogens block the oestrogen receptors and prevent cancer developing.” In simple terms, they prevent the oestrogens in the body from latching on. The two flavonoid compounds, genistein and daidzein, which have this mild oestrogenic activity also help to reduce cholesterol.

Soya beans have been found to contain at least five compounds believed to inhibit cancer. One of these compounds is chemically similar to the drug Tamoxifen, which is now used to treat oestrogen-dependent breast cancer. Tamoxifen works as an oestrogen receptor antagonist: that is, it binds on to the oestrogen receptors and inhibits cancer growth. Tests show that the Japanese, for instance, have high levels of isoflavones in their urine and plasma – much higher than the amount found among the British and Americans, indicating that their traditional diet supplies them naturally with the phyto-oestrogens that may prevent hormonally linked cancers. Japanese women have been shown to excrete phyto-oestrogens in their urine 100 -1000 times higher than those excreted by American women. The good news for the rest of us is that one research project reported in the British Medical Journal in 1993 demonstrated that concentrations of daidzein and other isoflavones in plasma could be easily and quickly raised by foods (in this case soya, clover sprouts and linseed) containing phyto-oestrogens.

Other examples of foods that contain phyto-oestrogens are whole-grains, legumes (such as chickpeas, lentils, garlic and peas), fennel, celery, parsley, rhubarb and hops.

Increase your fibre intake

Fibre is very important because it determines how much oestrogen we store and how much we excrete. Soluble fibre binds oestrogen so that it is excreted more efficiently. Chronic constipation has been linked to breast cancer. That’s not surprising because toxic waste products that are not dealt with properly can end up stored in the body’s fatty tissue, including the breasts. The importance of fibre as far as breast cancer is concerned has not been adequately stressed.

Women worried about breast cancer are often told to watch their intake of fat – which is good general health advice. What is not pointed out is that the fibre factor – increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables in your diet – seems to be much more important in prevention.

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BREAST CANCER PREVENTION: EATING PHYTO-OESTROGENS AND FIBRE INTAKE
Eat phyto-oestrogensPhyto-oestrogens are a group of foods which contain substances that have a hormone-like action. Soya beans, for instance, contain phyto-chemicals known as isoflavones which make up about 75 per cent of the soya protein. In the human gut, bacteria convert isoflavones into compounds that can have an oestrogenic action, although they are not hormones. These phyto-oestrogens seem to fit into oestrogen receptors on breast cancer cells but are probably too weak to stimulate the cells. What seems to happen is that these weak oestrogens block the oestrogen receptors and prevent cancer developing.” In simple terms, they prevent the oestrogens in the body from latching on. The two flavonoid compounds, genistein and daidzein, which have this mild oestrogenic activity also help to reduce cholesterol.Soya beans have been found to contain at least five compounds believed to inhibit cancer. One of these compounds is chemically similar to the drug Tamoxifen, which is now used to treat oestrogen-dependent breast cancer. Tamoxifen works as an oestrogen receptor antagonist: that is, it binds on to the oestrogen receptors and inhibits cancer growth. Tests show that the Japanese, for instance, have high levels of isoflavones in their urine and plasma – much higher than the amount found among the British and Americans, indicating that their traditional diet supplies them naturally with the phyto-oestrogens that may prevent hormonally linked cancers. Japanese women have been shown to excrete phyto-oestrogens in their urine 100 -1000 times higher than those excreted by American women. The good news for the rest of us is that one research project reported in the British Medical Journal in 1993 demonstrated that concentrations of daidzein and other isoflavones in plasma could be easily and quickly raised by foods (in this case soya, clover sprouts and linseed) containing phyto-oestrogens.Other examples of foods that contain phyto-oestrogens are whole-grains, legumes (such as chickpeas, lentils, garlic and peas), fennel, celery, parsley, rhubarb and hops.
Increase your fibre intakeFibre is very important because it determines how much oestrogen we store and how much we excrete. Soluble fibre binds oestrogen so that it is excreted more efficiently. Chronic constipation has been linked to breast cancer. That’s not surprising because toxic waste products that are not dealt with properly can end up stored in the body’s fatty tissue, including the breasts. The importance of fibre as far as breast cancer is concerned has not been adequately stressed.Women worried about breast cancer are often told to watch their intake of fat – which is good general health advice. What is not pointed out is that the fibre factor – increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables in your diet – seems to be much more important in prevention.
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