Soy Products and Cruciferous Vegetables Reduce Breast Cancer Treatment Symptoms

Soy products and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts reduce treatment-related side effects among breast cancer survivors, according to research published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. Researchers followed 365 cancer survivors and compared symptoms such as hot flashes, joint pain, fatigue, and memory issues with soy and cruciferous vegetable consumption. Higher intakes of these foods lowered the odds of these symptoms, compared with women who consumed little or no soy or cruciferous vegetables. Researchers attribute the reduced risk to better regulation of estrogens, reduced inflammation, and increased intake of phytochemicals found in these foods.