Now that you’ve finished active treatment, think you’re ready to kiss fear and anxiety goodbye?
Think again.
Post-treatment survivorship is filled with scary things. Like PHYTOESTROGENS.
How scared are you?
As a survivor of hormone-driven breast cancer, you’re likely terrified.
And confused.
You’ve been trying to follow a plant-based diet, but so many plant foods have phytoestrogens in them.
What should you do?
Use facts to squash your phytoestrogen food fears.
THE MYTH: there’s estrogen in food and it will make your cancer come back, so you have to eat a low-estrogen diet.
THE FACT: phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) aren’t the same as naturally-occurring (endogenous) hormones in your body.
PHYTOESTROGEN INTRODUCTION
Dietary phytoestrogens are bioactive plant-derived compounds that are structurally similar to estradiol, the primary female sex hormone.
Evidence from preclinical studies suggests these compounds may have an effect on hormones and health, although the results of human trials are unclear.
The effects of dietary phytoestrogens depend on exposure (phytoestrogen type, concentration, bioavailability), ethnicity, hormone levels related to age, sex and physiological condition, and overall health status.
While there are five different classes of phytoestrogens, it’s common to think of soy as the only type.
In Part II, I’ll go into more detail about phytoestrogens and hormone-driven breast cancer.
For now, I want to leave you with this.
Food fears are real. They’re paralyzing. And they’re thieves.
THIEVES
Food fears steal your joy of eating. Remember, before your diagnosis, when you loved to eat?
When really good food made you really happy?
Now? Food freaks you out.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Fear comes from a place of uncertainty. Or lack of information. Or MISinformation.
As always, I give you facts that help you lose the fear, so stay tuned for Phytoestrogen Fears Part II!
In the meantime, tell me in the comments below, what’s your number one food fear as a post-treatment survivor of hormone-driven breast cancer?
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your dietitian or doctor for guidance specific to your needs.
