Throw Soyfoods Into Your Fall Lineup

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- September is the time for big plays and winning combinations.  One combination that is a winner all-year round is soyfoods and men's health.  September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month and the Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA) believes it's a perfect time to remind Americans of the facts about men's health and soyfoods.

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According to the American Cancer Society, one man in six will get prostate cancer during his lifetime and one in thirty-six will die of this disease.(1) The good news is that there are safe, low-cost preventative measures that can be taken to help protect against this cancer.  According to Omar Kucuk, MD of the Emory University Winship Cancer Institute, consuming a diet that is more plant based is believed to play a large role in decreasing the risk of prostate cancer.  In addition to Dr. Kucuk's research, consensus is mounting among researchers that active ingredients in soybeans known as isoflavones lend a hand in the prevention of prostate cancer.(2,3)

Often when men think about prostate cancer, they also worry about their hormones and reproductive health.  Recently, Dr. Hamilton-Reeves completed a large review of the available research on the effect of soy on testosterone and other reproductive hormones.  Hamilton-Reeves examined 32 studies and concluded that neither soy protein nor soy isoflavones affect reproductive hormone concentrations in men.(4)  

In addition to prostate cancer, men should also be protecting themselves against heart disease.  In 1999, the FDA authorized a health claim for soy protein's role in heart health and the research continues to show that soyfoods, especially the protein content, modestly lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol, while keeping HDL (good) cholesterol intact.(5,6)  Adding soyfoods to a low cholesterol, low saturated fat diet is a tasty and smart choice.  

With the wide variety of soyfoods available today, there are many great options for adding soy to any game day meal.  Soy can be used in dips, chips, burgers, veggie dogs, and chili - all great for tailgating. Substituting soyfoods for popular favorites will provide your guests a heart-smart punch of protein energy. That's a winning play!

For great ideas for soyfoods recipes and additional information please visit www.soyfoods.org.

The Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA) is a non-profit trade association that has been promoting consumption of soyfoods in the diet since 1978. SANA is committed to encouraging sustainability, integrity and growth in the soyfoods industry by promoting the benefits and consumption of soy-based foods and ingredients in diets. More information is available at www.soyfoods.org.

(1) "How Many Men Get Prostate Cancer?" American Cancer Society: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms. 1 July 2010. Web. 21 Sept. 2010. <http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/overviewguide/prostate-cancer-overview-key-statistics>.

(2) Yan L, Spitznagel EL. Soy consumption and prostate cancer risk in men: a revisit of a meta-analysis. AJCN 2009;89:1155-1163.

(3) Chan R, Lok K, Woo J. Prostate cancer and vegetable consumption. Mol Nutr Food Res 2009;53:201-216.

(4) Hamilton-Reeves JM, Vazquez G, Duval SJ, Phipps WR, Kurzer MS, Messina MJ. Studies show no effects of soy protein or isoflavones on reproductive hormones in men: results of a meta-analysis. Fertility and Sterility. 2010 Aug;94(3):997-1007.

(5) Harland J , Haffner T. Systematic review, meta-analysis and regression of randomized controlled trials reporting an association between an intake of circa 25g soya protein per day and blood cholesterol. Atherosclerosis. 2008; 200: 13-27.

(6) Pipe  E, Gobert,  C P, Capes S E, Darlington G A, Lampe J W, Duncan A M. Soy Protein Reduces Serum LDL Cholesterol and the LDL Cholesterol:HDL Cholesterol and Apolipoprotein B:Apolipoprotein A-I Ratios in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes J. Nutr. 139: 1700–1706, 2009.

SOURCE Soyfoods Association of North America