Yet another reason to follow the healthy diet of the Okinawans (who boast one of the longest lifespans on planet Earth).
Miso soup is also one of the Japanese staple diet. Read below for the health benefits of the humble miso soup that we can find so easily in any Japanese restaurant.
| By Takeshi Yokokawa | June 18, 2003 (Wed) |
A Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare research group announced on June 18 that miso soup inhibits the development of cancer cells. Three bowls of miso soup a day reduce the possibility of breast cancer by half, reported the researchers.
The group conducted a 10-year study of volunteers aged 40 to 59 years from Iwate, Akita, Nagano and Okinawa prefectures to observe the relationship between soybean product consumption and breast cancer. Miso is made from soybeans, which include isoflavone. The researchers discovered that a high intake of isoflavone yields favorable results in the prevention of breast cancer and that as a result, there is a correlation between the amount of miso soup intake and the incidence of breast cancer. Compared with consuming one bowl of miso soup or less a day, two bowls provide a 26 percent reduction and three bowls a 40 percent reduction in the occurrence of breast cancer.
The groups said that consuming an excessive amount of miso soup, however, can introduce too much salt into the body, causing high blood pressure and stomach cancer. They highlighted the benefits of not relying strictly on miso soup but also eating other soybean products.
Once breast cancer is detected, female hormones help cancer cells multiply rapidly. Isoflavone has the same structure as cancer cells, and female hormones can send isoflavone through the body quickly as well. Isoflavone is believed to hinder the development of cancer cells.
The group conducted a 10-year study of volunteers aged 40 to 59 years from Iwate, Akita, Nagano and Okinawa prefectures to observe the relationship between soybean product consumption and breast cancer. Miso is made from soybeans, which include isoflavone. The researchers discovered that a high intake of isoflavone yields favorable results in the prevention of breast cancer and that as a result, there is a correlation between the amount of miso soup intake and the incidence of breast cancer. Compared with consuming one bowl of miso soup or less a day, two bowls provide a 26 percent reduction and three bowls a 40 percent reduction in the occurrence of breast cancer.
The groups said that consuming an excessive amount of miso soup, however, can introduce too much salt into the body, causing high blood pressure and stomach cancer. They highlighted the benefits of not relying strictly on miso soup but also eating other soybean products.
Once breast cancer is detected, female hormones help cancer cells multiply rapidly. Isoflavone has the same structure as cancer cells, and female hormones can send isoflavone through the body quickly as well. Isoflavone is believed to hinder the development of cancer cells.
