Health-Conscious Series #2 - Soya as an alternative cure for prostate and breast cancer

Soya is an alternative medicine to fight prostate and breast cancer. Scientific studies show big potentials on soya's health benefits to cure such terminal disease among men and women.

It was found out by researchers from Northwestern University, Chicago, USA that a pill called genistein, which is a natural isoflavone chemical in soya controls the spread of prostate cancer among male adults.

It was based from the test conducted to 30 men. They were given non-toxic treatment through genistein. It was found out that patients can now avoid high-dosage of medication.

Because if this positive effect among men, a theory was made that it should also be used in treating brerast cancer among women.

A second study was conducted among 1, 000 women. It also showed favorable effect among them crediting isoflavones in soya that can lower the risk of having breast cancer.

Genistein is one of the most studied isoflavones since 1960s. It is present in soya beans (soybeans) where mostly Asians revered as the primary dietary source, 20 times more the dietary needs in western world.

To extract one pound of genistein, we need 400 pounds of raw soya beans. It is now incorporated on many drug supplements to have a health prostate for men.

Aside from the first two types of cancer: prostate and breast That I've spilled out, the dietary effects of genistein extends to the control of colon, cardio-vascular and post-menopausal illnesses, like bone loss.

Alternative cure on terminal diseases will always be found at our backyard, by planting legumes, like soya. I can say, that a 'plant-and-forget' method can be implemented once you planted soya because it always grow abundantly on Asian soils.

Dietary supplements, with genistein content are now being promoted through sales agents that orient jobless mothers in our village. Those supplements will always have the advisory coming from the BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs Administration) that reads: No approved therapeutic claim.

You're lucky if at the start of your childhood, you are fond of eating legumes, especially soya beans.

Soy beans or soya are of great production here in Asia. Right now, here in the Philippines, we are enjoying it's products, like soya meat, milk and taho (vended every morning by taho peddlers).

As for the women's breast cancer, timing is everything. According to the recent report written on April 5, 2012, a new research, which was conducted under the leadership of professors of oncology Leena Hilakivi-Clarke, PhD, and Robert Clarke, PhD, DSc, both at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, used mouse models in order to evaluate the impact of soy on breast tumors.

The two doctors found out that “if animals were fed genistein during childhood, and intake continues before and after tumors develop, the tumors are highly sensitive to tamoxifen (treatment for breast cancer).”

Note: With full article titled :Is Soy Safe for Women with Breast Cancer? New Discovery by Deborah Mitchell

The industrial production of soy beans (Glycine max) is now being spearheaded by United States of America, although it is a native legume from East Asia, especially in China. More than half the share of world production of soya is concentrated in North America because of its many uses, to wit:

• soy infant formula - instead of dehydrated cow's milk, soy milk is the best alternative that can provide soluble protein to lactating babies
• flour - aside from wheat flour, we can use soy flour to make homemade bread
• food - we, Asians, incorporate soya through food preparation, like tofu; soy sauce, fermented soya paste, etc.
• oil - for pharmaceutical uses and of course, as cooking oil

Here in the Philippines, we used to call soya as kadyos. In fact, I just planted its local variety in our backyard. I'm just waiting to bear it's fruit and when ripen, collect its seeds for future use. Roasted soya beans can be an alternative coffee, too! It can rival the regular production of coffee beans that is usually our perk during breakfast or morning treat.

Ingredients:

1/4 kilogram pork meat, cut intro strips

1 square of tofu or soya meat, fried then cut intro strips

1/4 kilogram toge or sprouted soya beans , washed and cleaned

spices: garlic, onion and black pepper

seasoning: soya sauce

soya oil or vegetable oil

Time to cook:

1. Heat a little amount of oil in the frying pan.

2. Saute pork strips until brown. It takes 3-5 minutes to do it, stir-frying it. Set aside.

3. Saute spices, garlic and onion.

4. Add sprouted soya beans. Continue stirring for a minute.

5. Sprinkle the seasoning, soya sauce (soy sauce); cover and let it boil for 2- 3 minutes.

6. Add the browned pork strips then the fried tofu strips. Boil for a while.

7. Season with pepper for a fiery taste or you can omit it for milder taste.

Enjoy your meal with steaming newly-cooked white rice. Bon Apetit!!!

If you already bought packaged soya beans from the market, you'll not be sure that all seeds are not damaged, through handling and longevity. You can grow your own or buy newly harvested mature soya beans.

This is the usual procedure in making soya milk at home.

1. Wash the soya beans thoroughly. Removed damaged beans by soaking it on water overnight. Wash it again until the water is still clean-looking.
2. Rinse and drain in a colander to lessen excess water. Grind the beans by using the regular coffee blender. Put a little amount of water to avoid getting stuck up and derail the process.
3. Put the grinded soya beans with enough water (1:3 ratio - for every one part of soya, add 3 parts water) in a cooking pot then boil for half an hour, while continue stirring it.
4. Drain the mixture in a cheesecloth. The liquid part is the soya milk and the remaining semi-solid part will be used to make taho, a soya bean delicacy that is mixed with pearl balls and sugar caramel.
5. Cool, pour in a clean bottle then store in your refrigerator.

Enjoy drinking your soya milk, as much as I enjoy mine!!!