Is it true that phytoestrogens in food can cause cancer? & bull; hello healthy

Some people may think that foods containing phytoestrogens can trigger cancer because they contain estrogen. However, is this assumption correct? Before discussing the relationship between phytoestrogens and cancer, it is better if we first know what phytoestrogens are.

What are phytoestrogens?

Phytoestrogens are compounds in plants that are similar to the hormone estrogen in the body. However, phytoestrogens are generally weaker to form estrogen than the naturally occurring estrogen hormone found in humans and animals. Some foods that contain phytoestrogens, such as herbs and spices (garlic, parsley), whole grains (soybeans, wheat, rice), vegetables (beans, carrots, potatoes), fruits (pomegranates, cherries, apples), and drinks (coffee).

These phytoestrogens can be divided into two main groups that are most often studied, namely:

• Isoflavones, which are widely found in soybeans and its products, as well as other nuts
• Lignans, which can be found in whole grains, fiber, linseed, nuts, fruits, and various vegetables

Phytoestrogens and their effects on cancer

It is widely known that high levels of estrogen in the body are one of the causes of breast cancer. However, the effect of phytoestrogens (which are similar to estrogens) in cancer is still questionable.

Soybeans and cancer

Soybeans are a food ingredient that contains a lot of phytoestrogens (isoflavone group) which are found in the form of genestein and daidzein. Some studies may find that soybeans can trigger cancer, particularly breast cancer. However, there are also many studies that say soy can prevent cancer.

Studies involving Asian and non-Asian populations have shown that soy consumption is not associated with breast cancer. Research conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition involving about 15,000 Dutch women aged 49-70 years and conducted for 4-8 years, showed that there was no relationship between isoflavone intake and the incidence of breast cancer.

Some studies have even shown that regular consumption of soy or other vegetables high in phytoestrogens can have a protective effect on the development of breast cancer. Research in China, where soy is part of their dietary habits, shows that higher soy intake in adolescence or adulthood is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer before menopause. Another study in Chinese women previously diagnosed with breast cancer showed that regular consumption of soy in various forms was associated with a reduced chance of cancer recurrence and a longer survival rate.

Apart from breast cancer, several studies have also shown that soy has not been shown to increase the risk of uterine cancer and ovarian cancer. Soybeans do not contain estrogen, but contain phytoestrogens which have a structure similar to estrogen. So, soy consumption is safe for those of you who don't or who have cancer.

Flaxseed and cancer

Flaxseeds are a rich food source of lignans, a type of phytoestrogen. Lignans have both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects on the body. Lignans are one substance that is controversial whether women with breast cancer are safe to eat flaxseed.

Lignans, which are found in flaxseeds, can change the metabolism of estrogen in the body. In postmenopausal women, lignans can cause the body to produce a small amount of estrogen in the active form. This is believed to reduce the risk of breast cancer. So adding flaxseed to your intake can decrease cell growth in breast tissue.

Several studies have also shown that flaxseed can increase the process of apoptosis (or programmed cell death), so that damaged cells can be prevented by the body from reproducing. If allowed, the damaged cells multiply can later develop into cancer.

Several cell and animal studies have shown that the two types of phytoestrogens found in lignans, namely enterolactones and enterodiol, can help suppress breast tumor growth. Other studies have also shown that high consumption of flaxseed (which contains lignans) is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. In addition, lignans are also associated with reduced aggressive tumor characteristics in women diagnosed with breast cancer.

The conclusion is that eating foods containing phytoestrogens, such as soybeans and their products and flaxseeds, has not been shown to cause cancer. In fact, many studies have shown that these two foods can prevent cancer, especially breast cancer related to the hormone estrogen. Both types of food are good for consumption because they contain various nutrients that are good for the body. Especially for vegetarians, soybeans and their products are a very important source of vegetable protein.