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Vol. 2, No. 9
October 16, 1997Soyfoods USA...a monthly e-mail newsletter designed to inform media sources, dietitians, and consumers about the latest soyfoods information. Underwritten by the Indiana Soybean Board. Details at end of issue.
**Don't forget! The Second Annual Soyfoods Symposium will be held November 11-12, 1997 in Louisville. For more information, call 1-800-BEAN-SOY (800-232-6769). Hope to see you there!
CONTENTS
1. New Research on Phytoestrogens and Breast Cancer
2. New Manufacturers Web Site
3. Soyfoods and Hormone Replacement Therapy
4. Soy Connection Seminars
5. Newsletter Survey
6. Cool Weather Recipes
% Mexican Chili and Rice
% Dilly Carrot Soup
7. Getting on and off our list.***********************
NEW RESEARCH ON PHYTOESTROGENS AND BREAST CANCER
Consuming a diet rich in naturally-occurring plant chemicals called phytoestrogens may decrease the risk of breast cancer, according to a Reuters report this month about a new study done in Australia. According to the article "women with high levels of two phytoestrogen byproducts-- equol and enterolactone -- in their urine had a lower risk of breastcancer compared with other women." This information is significant for people who consume soyfoods, since they are an important source of phytoestrogens.
A copy of the article can be found on the World Wide Web at: <http://www.yahoo.com/headlines/971006/health/stories/diet_1.html>
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NEW MANUFACTURERS WEB SITE
In order to promote the development of new soy products among food manufacturers, we have added a new area to the U.S. Soyfoods Directory Web site. Called "New Food, New Uses," this new addition provides information about the benefits of soy protein in food manufacturing, a market analysis of soyfoods, and application and product information. You will also find a list of soy protein product suppliers, regulations on the use of soy protein with food products, and functionality fact sheets for soy protein in a variety of food products.
Just point your browser to <http://soyfoods.com/manufacture/>
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SOYFOODS AND HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
By Mark Messina, Ph.D.In the past I have explored the subject of soyfoods as possible alternatives to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). During this time. several published articles about HRT have been highlighted in the media. It appears that dementia may now be added to the list of diseases along with heart disease and osteoporosis that may potentially benefit from HRT. But as always there are the troubling concerns about the side effects of HRT. most notably the increased risk of breast cancer. While our understanding of the health implications of HRT is far from complete. The phyto-estrogens in soy look increasingly attractive as an alternative to estrogens derived from horse urine. So where do we stand in terms of our knowledge about soy in relation to heart disease, bone health and menopause symptom relief, and what remains to be determined?
CORONARY HEART DISEASE (CHD): For those with high cholesterol, it is clear that most will experience a decrease in LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in response to soy, although fairly large amounts are required and there is considerable variation among individuals. Of course, high LDL-C levels are only one risk factor for heart disease. Estrogen may favorably affect many CHD risk factors, such as increasing HDL-cholesterol levels, inhibiting LDL-C oxidation, inhibiting clot formation and improving vascular reactivity. There are very preliminary data suggesting soy may exert similar effects which, in the end, may prove to be even more valuable than the cholesterol lowering properties of soy.
OSTEOPOROSIS: Although more women die of CHD, in some ways osteoporosis is a more troubling issue. Risk factors for heart disease are better understood and there are many lifestyle choices we can make to avoid CHD. It is more difficult to assess the fracture risk of an individual.
Certainly, there is an a priori basis for thinking the soybean isoflavones promote bone health. Estrogen promotes bone health, and isoflavones are weak estrogens. The synthetic isoflavone, ipriflavone, which has a very similar chemical structure to the soybean isoflavones, has been shown to improve bone density in postmenopausal women in studies up to three years in duration. Recently, some limited data, both in humans and animals support the hypothesis that soy promotes bone health but this is still very speculative. As of yet, there is not one long-term human study that has looked at the effects of either soy or isoflavones on bone mineral density, let alone fracture risk.
MENOPAUSE SYMPTOM RELIEF: As discussed in this issue, some data suggest soy relieves menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, but these data are inconclusive. Although there is much anecdotal support for soy in this regard, double blind controlled studies are needed. There is a large placebo component in evaluating hot flashes.
RESEARCH NEEDS: For CHD, it is important to determine the dose response relationship between soy and cholesterol reduction. Is there a threshold effect? Are 40 grams of soy protein twice as good as 20 grams? Equally important is the need to establish whether the isoflavones or protein, or some other component of soy, is primarily responsible for cholesterol reduction. Some soy products are high in protein and low in isoflavones whereas others are high in isoflavones and relatively low in protein. So this question carries much practical significance. Given research currently underway, we should be able to establish a dose response and to identify the cholesterol-lowering component of soy in about two years. As an aside, although it is not necessary to know how something works to know that it does, identifying the mechanism(s) for the cholesterol lowering effect of soy will increase acceptance of soyfoods by the clinical community. As noted above, soy may favorably affect several risk factors for CHD; unfortunately, it will likely take quite a bit longer to test these hypotheses.
For osteoporosis, long-term studies evaluating the effects of soy on bone mineral density (BMD) are needed. Fortunately, several such studies are underway and others are being proposed. Within two years, we should have some answers. If soyfoods favorably affect BMD, even longer-term studies looking at fracture rates are needed.
Finally, the hot flash issue should also be resolved within the next two years given the number of researchers studying this issue. Because the impact of soy on hot flashes can be directly experienced, this is somewhat less critical.
CONCLUSIONS: We simply don't know enough to suggest that soyfoods can be substituted for HRT. It is clear, however, that the decision about whether to take HRT should be individualized. One needs to consider their own risk profile for heart disease, breast cancer and osteoporosis. For those women who decide not to take HRT, soyfoods may prove to be a very important dietary addition, although there are many issues that need to be resolved, including some possible contraindications. As professionals we recognize the seemingly slow pace of research. Fortunately, given the heightened interest in soyfoods and soybean isoflavones, many answers will be known sooner rather than later.
...Adapted from The Soy Connection, Volume 5, Number 4, Fall 1997. Mark Messina, is a nutritionist with a masters degree in nutrition from the University of Michigan and a doctorate in nutrition from Michigan State University.
<http://www.olympus.net/messina/markbio.html>
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SOY CONNECTION SEMINARS
Coming in 1998 "The Soy Connection" dietitian seminars in the following cities:
Hartford, Philadelphia, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco
Dates and additional locations to be announced later. For more information, call 1-888-772-8452.
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NEWSLETTER SURVEY
The number of subscribers to "Soyfoods USA" continues to increase each month, so we must be doing something right. But, as publisher, the Indiana Soybean Board is compelled to evaluate the newsletter in order to try to make it even better. So, at this time we are asking all subscribers to take a few moments to tell us about themselves and their thoughts about "Soyfoods USA." Just point your browser to
<http://soyfoods.com/survey.html>.
(Or, if your e-mail software permits, you can just point your mouse to the URL above and click or double-click. Some software requires that you hold a command or option key down as well.)
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Cool Weather Recipes
Mexican Chili and Rice
2 cups thick and chunky salsa
3/4 cup vegetable broth
2 cups frozen or refrigerated precooked soy crumbles*
1-1/2 cups kidney beans, undrained
2 tablespoons sliced black olives
3 cups cooked rice1. Combine ingredients in saucepan, except rice.
2. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve over rice.
Serves 6. Serving size: 3/4 cup chili and 1/2 cup rice.
Per serving: 250 calories, 1 gram total fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 1140 mg sodium, 45 grams carbohydrates, 14 grams protein.
* Morningstar Ground Meatless, Green Giant Harvest Burgers( for Recipes, and Lightlife Gimme Lean are just a few of the soy crumble choices.
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Dilly Carrot Soup
2 tablespoons vegetable oil*
1/2 cup chopped onions
6 cups frozen sliced carrots
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup plain soymilk
2-1/2 teaspoons dried dill weed, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt1. Heat oil in saucepan.
2. Add onions and cook until soft.
3. Add carrots, broth, soymilk, two teaspoons dill, salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for about 5 minutes.
4. Puree in batches using a blender or food processor.
5. Return soup to saucepan. Add 1/2 teaspoon dill, salt and pepper to taste; heat.
Serves 4. Serving size: 1-1/4 cups
Per serving: 180 calories, 9 grams total fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 740 mg sodium, 23 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams protein.
*Most vegetable oils are made from soyoil.
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Permission is granted to reprint this information, as long as credit is given to the Indiana Soybean Board <http://stratsoy.ag.uiuc.edu/~in-qssb/welcome.html>
Send comments or requests for information about Soyfoods USA to the editor, Roger Stevens, <info@soyfoods.com>
Back issues available at <http://www.soyfoods.com/newsletter/old/OldSUSA.html>
More information about soyfoods can be found at the U.S. Soyfoods Directory <http://soyfoods.com>
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http://soyfoods.com/newsletter/SubscribeSUSA.html
Copyright 1997
Indiana Soybean Board
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