Tag Archives: soya

Soya beans as a cancer killer

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THE battle to beat some of Britain’s biggest cancer killers could be aided by the simple soya bean.

New research shows that powerful proteins found in the health-boosting legumes block the growth of bowel, liver and lung cancers.

Collectively, these claim the lives of 55,000 people every year.

The research found that soya bean meal – created after the extraction of oil from soya bean seeds – is rich in protein which makes up 40 per cent of the seeds’ nutritional component.

It also contains high levels of oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. This helps to reduce the build-up of fat in the arteries which can lead to heart disease and stroke.

In the study, published in the journal Food Research International, US scientists at the University of Arkansas looked at the role soya beans could have in the prevention of ­cancer.

Using a variety of strains high in oleic acid and protein, they monitored the activity between the peptides, or amino acids, from the soya bean meal and various types of human cancer cells.

The study showed that soya bean meal peptides stopped cell growth by a dramatic 73 per cent for bowel cancer, 70 per cent for liver cancer and 68 per cent for lung cancer cells.

Soya beans

Soya beans

The researchers said certain soya bean strains containing high levels of oleic acid could be used as a powerful new food-based cancer buster. Soya bean meal is widely used as a filler and source of protein in animal feed.

The authors wrote: “It could be concluded that peptide fractions derived from meals of high oleic acid soya bean lines have the property of inhibiting cancer cell growth in human cell lines and could have potential nutraceutical use against colon, liver and lung cancers.”


Dr Anthea Martin, of Cancer Research UK, said: “While there is a lot of interest in whether chemicals from foods can prevent or treat cancer, these experiments on soya bean extracts were done using cells grown in the lab.

“This is a long way from saying that these beans can prevent cancer. More work needs to be done to find whether compounds in soya beans might be useful in cutting cancer risk.

“However, we already know that eating a balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables and keeping a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of developing cancer.”

Previous research has hailed the health benefits of oleic acid, a fat also found in olive oil, grape-seed oil, nuts and avocados as well as soya.

Products containing soya beans include tofu, miso and soya milk.

What is Cardiovascular disease – 2

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Foods for your heart and other measures to take to protect your heart :

How to modify your fat intake:

*Use butter and other spreads sparingly

*Choose lean cuts of meat or trim fat off

*Grill, bake or steam food rather than frying

*Swap saturated fats such as butter for unsaturated oils such as sunflower, rapeseed or olive oil

*Limit your intake of trans-fats from processed food

*Eat two to three portions of oily fish each week (e.g. sardines, mackerel, fresh tuna, salmon)

Essential fatty acids

Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s, which are found in oily fish, have been shown to reduce the risk of CVD by lowering blood triglycerides, reducing blood clotting and regulating heart rhythm. For general heart health, try to eat two portions of fish per week, one of which should be oily.

Stanols and sterols

Certain plant-derived compounds, called stanol or sterol esters have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels. Spreads, yoghurts, drinks and soya ‘dairy alternatives’ are now available containing these products. These sterol enriched foods may be particularly useful for those with raised blood cholesterol which has remained elevated even after making other dietary changes. Clinical trials show that when used regularly, they can reduce high cholesterol levels.

Fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables are rich in many essential nutrients including vitamins C and E and carotenoids (which are all antioxidants). They may help to protect the heart by limiting the damaging effects of cholesterol on body tissues. Aim for at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. (See the Fruit and Vegetables article for more information on what a serving is.)

Wholegrains and fibre

Studies of large groups of people in the US have shown that diets rich in wholegrain food can reduce the risk of CVD by up to 30 per cent. You can include wholegrain food in every meal by choosing wholemeal bread and wholegrain varieties of pasta and rice.

Soluble dietary fibre, found in oats, beans and pulses, can help to lower LDL cholesterol. These foods should be included as part of an overall healthy balanced diet, at least two to three times each week.

Soya protein

A diet that includes at least 25g of soya per day has been associated with reductions in LDL cholesterol and CVD. Soya isoflavones in particular have been shown to reduce CVD risk as they inhibit the growth of cells that form artery-clogging plaque. Soya protein is also an excellent substitute for meat and is available in a convenient and tasty form in many ready-made meals. Another good source of soya protein is soya milk and yoghurt.

The Heart

The Heart

The British Heart Foundation has an excellent range of resources giving information about reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease.


Rest and relaxation

While exercise can help lower blood pressure and strengthen your heart, rest and relaxation can reduce your levels of anxiety and improve your reactions to stress – both of which can affect the blood vessels and heart. All of us have to contend with major life events from time to time such as a divorce, bereavement, job loss or financial problems. However, there’s also a wide range of everyday events (being stuck in traffic, a row with your partner or a disagreement with someone at work) that can be stressful – and these everyday irritations may be even more stressful because they are constant.

Ways to manage stress

*Keep a diary: make a note of stressful situations and how your react to them. This will help you identify what stresses you out, so you can begin to change your reactions.

*Stay positive: your thoughts control your feelings. If you stop and listen to your emotions, you may be surprised to discover how negative they are. Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones will help you deal with stressful situations more calmly.

*Learn to relax: pay attention to your posture and consciously relax physically. You may also want to try a technique such as yoga, massage, meditation or other complementary therapies.

*Get as much sleep as you need: we all need different amounts of sleep and you will know how many you need to feel refreshed. Try to get this amount of sleep most nights.

Regular monitoring

People should also have regular blood pressure readings, height and weight monitoring, and tests for cholesterol levels. Those with high levels should be encouraged to improve their diet and can be treated for poor cholesterol levels with drugs – usually, statins or niacins.

The American Heart Association recommends that blood pressure should be no more than 140 over 90 Hg. The association recommends a series of diets, with no more than 30% of calories coming in the form of fats, and limiting calories in the form of saturated fats to between 7 and 10%.