We are constantly told that diet is king in prostate cancer. This may be true, but it is confusing because many specific claims seem to be transient and change as often as I change my shirt. The claims are often are made without careful study and analysis of any scientific data. If you delve into the claims, you will often find, in reality, there are conflicting claims and conflicting data about specific effects food products actually have on an individual.

Not only are prostate cancer survivors on the diet bandwagon, but as we know, many health conscious Americans have also jumped on the wagon and modified their eating habits. One of the major changes involves the consumption of tofu (processed soy) in place of meat or eggs. The soy industry has invested significant dollars in convincing us that this is a healthy move, but the evidence is not convincing.

Examination of the science has allowed me to draw the conclusion that consuming processed soy, which includes tofu, is not healthy as the soy industry claims and many of us believe.

When soy is processed, using today’s high-tech procedures, the toxins that are naturally present in soybeans remain in the food. Additionally, the high-tech processing methods, which include high temperatures, high pressure, alkali and acid baths and petroleum solvents, leave additional toxic and carcinogenic residues in the soy. Additionally, all processed soy contains phytates that block mineral absorption and trypsin inhibitors that block proper digestion.

Advocates, as well as the soy industry, say that high soy diets protect against breast, prostate and colon cancer. These claims are statistically true, soy is protective against these cancers, but we do not have any insight the role soy might play with prostate cancer progression once the disease is present. What is scary and not very well known by most of us, high soy diets have been linked to many other significant health problems including;

• Thyroid problems; including weight gain, lethargy, malaise, fatigue, hair loss, and loss of libido

• Premature puberty and other developmental problems in babies, children and adolescents

• Cancer; including increase significant incidents of thyroid, liver, esophageal. pancreati