| Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is soy safe?
A. For most women yes. Based on the many positive studies currently
available, I believe that soy can be used safely by the vast majority
of women. I particularly recommend consuming whole soy foods. There
is often a synergistic effect among the active elements that make
the whole food more then the sum of its parts. And, in the case
of soy, there are so many healthful components that it would be
a shame to miss any of them.
I’ve written extensively about the safety of
soy in my October 2002 newsletter (The Lark Letter) and urge
you to look at the article titled Making Sense of the Soy Controversy.
Some of the points I make in the article are:
Soy isoflavones…compete with and block
your own estrogen, thereby jamming these receptor sites and reducing
the potential for your estrogen to stimulate the growth of cancer.
…the soy isoflavone genistein actually blocked the ability
of the tumor to grow new blood vessels.
…in countries such as Japan or China, where soy is a dietary
staple, women are four to six times less likely than their American
counterparts to suffer from breast cancer.
Please read the complete article, especially if
you are concerned about the health claims for soy. Do note if you
find that soy food cause digestive upset such as gas, bloating,
or intestinal discomfort, I suggest that you either take a digestive
enzyme specifically formulated for bean and vegetable intake when
eating soy or use soy isoflavone capsules. If you are allergic to
soy, then avoid consuming it entirely.
Q. What should I take since I am allergic
to soy?
A. Are you allergic
or intolerant? A lot of women take the indigestion and gas they
get from soy to be a sign of allergy. In either case, you can opt
for rice-based products if replacing dairy, or black cohosh if using
soy for menopause.
Q. I have a hypothyroid condition. Can
I eat soy and take soy supplements?
A. Based on the research,
I see no reason for most women with a thyroid condition to avoid
soy or soy products. The only exception is for women who have inflammatory
bowel disease and autoimmune thyroiditis, combined with a known
allergy or sensitivity to soy. Though this very small group, I recommend
avoiding soy.
Q. I want to know how I can prevent breast
cancer?
A. The short answer is lifestyle. No
alcohol, caffeine, smoking; take d-glucarate and DIM; take a lot
of antioxidants; don’t use conventional HRT; opt for thermography
over mammography; and exercise see the November 2002 issue
of The Lark Letter for additional information about
exercise.
Q. What should I take
if I have had a hysterectomy?
A. If you have had
a complete hysterectomy, you have in essence, been placed in surgical
menopause. With the loss of your ovaries, you are no longer producing
the same levels of estrogen and progesterone you were prior to surgery.
As a result, it is important to use natural estrogen substitutes,
and to pay special attention to the health of your bones and heart.
Therefore, I encourage you to follow my hormonal balance recommendations
for post-menopausal women.
(Note: Please refer to the Educational Series Part Three for
further recommendations.)
Q. What nutrients are safe to take if you have had breast cancer
and are estrogen receptive?
A. If you have had
breast cancer and are estrogen receptive you should use DIM, vitamin
E, and/or black cohosh,
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