Study: Miso Soup Helps Cut Risk of Breast Cancer

Three or more bowls of Japanese miso soup a day may significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to researchers at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo.

The researchers, in a survey of 21,852 Japanese women between the ages of 40 and 59, found that the incidence of breast cancer for of those who had more than three bowls of miso daily was 40 per cent less than among women who had one bowl.

The breast cancer incidence was 26 percent lower among women who averaged two bowls of miso soup daily over a 10-year period rather than the one daily bowl consumed by most Japanese.

The researchers said the benefits appeared to be strongest for postmenopausal women.

A report on the study, which appeared in the Journal of the National Cancer Association, speculated that the isoflavones -- chemicals found in plants that mimic the action of the female sex hormone oestrogen -- may be the link to reduced risk of breast cancer.

Miso soup contains fermented soy paste -- which is high in isoflavones -- along with other ingredients including seaweed, bean curd and vegetables. Interestingly, the researchers said consumption of soyfoods did not appear to result in lower breast cancer risk.

The researchers said consuming too much miso soup, however, could cause high blood pressure and stomach cancer, as the soup also contains a lot of salt.

Other Sources: Journal of the National Cancer Institute