Er+ Avoid Protein Bars with Soy Protein Isolate

samiam40

I just read last night on the Dana-Farber Ask the Nutritionist website (http://www.dana-farber.org/pat/support/nutrition/ask-the-nutritionist.html) that while soy in its natural state is OK a few times a week (tofu, edamame, soymilk, etc.), concentrated soy protein, like the kind found in most protein nutrition bars, powders & supplements and in some meat substitutes, is a big No No.  It says to avoid soy protein powder, soy protein isolate, isolated soy protein as ingredients.

Guess what I have eaten for breakfast (and sometimes also for a snack) practically every day for the past two years?  Protein bars with soy protein isolate as their primary ingredient.

Of course, I am going to cut these out of my diet now, since I have ER+ BC.  But it is so frustrating.  I thought I was doing something healthier for my body (than having a donut for breakfast or candy bar for snack) and it turns out I may have inadvertently contributed to my BC.

Anyway, I just thought I'd put that out there.  I really hate making and eating breakfast but love sweets, so a protein bar was the perfect quickie breakfast food for me.  If anyone has any other good ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Anonymous

SAMIAM - I started eating protein bars during chemo but not before, so I know they didn't contribute to my bc.  But, I was surprised to learn that they had the soy in them so I did stop eating them at that point; I thought the same as you that I was doing something healthy.  It's hard to figure out what you should and shouldn't eat for this reason or that.  UGH.  HUGS, Dawn

dlb823

Samian ~ The Dana Farber info is the same as what UCLA teaches, so I also had to look for a different energy bar.  The ones I found that I absolutely love are Gnu High Fiber Bars by Gnu Foods (www.gnufoods.com).  They're mostly oat, organic wheat, kamut, and a bunch of other natural things.  The brownie bar and peanut butter ones can be positively habit forming -- they're that good!  And you get your chocolate-fix with the brownie one!  Whole Foods and Trader Joes carry them.

I also had to switch from a soy protein powder I'd used for many years, and the best tasting alternative I've found is Body Fortress @ Wal-Mart.  It's whey protein, reasonably priced and tastes better than any of the health food options we tried prior to finding it.  I know some health-conscious women will question using dairy (whey) at all, or using a brand that isn't noted as from a hormone-free source.  But that doesn't bother me enough to pay 3x as much for something that is from a plant source or certified organic/hormone free in this case.   Deanna

Dawnbelle

Being a vegetarian this was one of my biggest problems when I was Dx back in May.

Everything is soy...mayonnaise, most oils, salad dressings, even ketchup! I was shocked when I started checking for soy. There is a debate on this & some girls think soy is good because it competes with the bad estrogens...

I have stopped the panic...but still really watch everything that goes in my mouth..too bad I can't learn to control what is coming out of my mouth

Dawn

dlb823

I just reread your post and wanted to add a couple of breakfast ideas.  Have you tried the natural, organic frozen waffles from Van's or Nature's Path?   They come in several varieties, including gluten-free, and they're really delicious.  I top mine with fresh, sliced strawberries -- nothing else -- and they're so good.  The other breakfast I eat a lot is plain non-fat yogurt (you'll probably have to try several brands to find one you like), and I mix any or all of the following in with it:  fresh berries, dried cranberries, walnuts, granola, ground flax, etc.  Neither one is as fast and portable as an energy bar, but they're fairly quick options.    Deanna

Dawnbelle

Deanna,

The organic waffles I use have soy in them & both of my oncologists told me NEVER to add flax seed to my diet, it has a high estrogenic effect. I am so confused on who to believe or what to do....

dlb823

Hi, Dawn ~  I'll recheck my waffle packages, but I don't think any of the ones I've bought have soy.  And you're right, the flax is as heavily debated as soy, but again I'm going with what UCLA recommends, and they say, like soy (except for the isolates, which are modified), it's fine in moderation.     Deanna

P.S.  Well, I had to go and check, and you're right!  Both have soybean oil.  Darn!  I thought I'd found something relatively healthy!  You know, based on what UCLA teaches (same as Dana Farber, it sounds like), I'm not afraid of the estrogenic factor, but I am concerned about the cleanliness of soy products, as there are women on the "Natural Girls" thread who feel that soy and its by-products are very contaminated.  Oh, well -- another one to figure out.  Thanks for pointing it out!

NancyD

Dawnn, as far as some of those products and soy go, I've found the Kraft olive oil mayo to be great (and there's an organic one my supermarket carries that's very good, too, but much more expensive); I've switched to pure olive oil for almost all my cooking; there are a few salad dressings that don't use soybean oil in all their products—check out Cindy's Kitchen in the refrigerated dressings section—or you can mix up your own Good Seasons using the oil of your choice. I don't think a dollop of ketchup on my occasional burger is going to fire up my bc again, so I worry less about that.

I've also started checking the chips and snacks for their ingredients. Soybean oil is in most, but some have started switching to expeller pressed oils with the recent negative news about hydrolated oils. ShopRite even has their own organic brand potato chips that uses safflower oil—and I'm hooked on those.

So, while at first I thought I would be relegated to making all my food from scratch to control the soy input, I've found that there are many items out there that will suit my need. And the bonus is I don't feel like I'm losing anything in taste or quality!

BarbAnne41

This issue is so confusing for me. I have been a vegetarian for 12 years and of course soy protein has been in my diet. Not protein bars but several of the meatless products. I  now have BC and am ER+ so right after I was diagnosed I asked my Onc about all that and he said that many of the studies he has read actually showed vegetarians, even those who consumed soy as a protein had a much lower rate of BC than meat eaters who didn't consume soy. He went on to say that vegetarians, who consumed soy, also had a lower rate of recurrence too. He said to continue being a vegetarian-it was healthier.

But then I read on here about the "warnings" and I just don't know what to believe.

Like Dawnn I always ate a soy mayo, but to avoid the raw eggs in most Mayo's on the market.

Thanks for the input, I will look a little more closely at my labels I guess just for my own peace of mind.

Anonymous

Hi all,

I am lactose intolerant and have used soy milk for years.  I can't even think that it contributed to my bc, but who knows.  I called my health care plan's dietitian about this issue and she said defiantly NO SOY ever!  She was adamant, so I am following the plan though it makes me very sad, I loved my soy.  I do have two bars that I love and that I have used for a long time and they are both good alternatives to typical protein bars and both are all natural.  Lara Bars and Kind Bars are both really good.  The Lara Bars come in a bunch of yummy flavors, and the Kind Bars have fewer, but are really good.  I eat one of these, a glass of Almond Milk, and a piece of fruit most days and it gets me all the way thru the morning.  One benefit to the no soy thing is that my Starbuck's doesn't taste right so I don't go as much, and I don't even crave it now, so I am saving money and calories.

Susan

BarbAnne41

Hi Susan-

 I just saw an ad for Almond Milk and thought wow I need to try that-is it good?

 So your dietitian said no soy too? I am so confused by this all,  after what my oncologists and his practice said.

Thanks for the tip on Almond Milk I would love to hear how it is.

Barbara

Dawnbelle

Good morning ladies...

I hope you can follow my story, I will keep it as short as possible.

About 14 years ago, my then 5yo daughter started getting BO. Yes, body odor! I rushed to the pediatrician who said "How much milk does she drink"?

MILK? I thought milk was good for our kids? I guess no-one ever told us about the estrogen the cows are pumping out during pregnancy & the hormones they get to keep it happening. It is just common sense to me now that milk is designed to pass my immunities on to my children, so it is going to pass on anything else it is carrying...I stopped right there with cows milk. IF I have to buy cow milk, I go with organic....I personally use goat's milk for everything.

I was tickled pink to see Dr. Oz name it one of the top 5 foods!!

I never did soy milk, tasted like chalk to me, BUT, I did use soy meat substitutes for years. OR as you can see in my avatar, I raised my own meat to give to my family, that is a chicken I am holding.

You want to really be freaked out? Take a look at the ingredients of all that expensive wrinkle cream....yep, they have us rubbing it all over our faces & arms & legs & bellies. Any plant with an estrogenic effect will tighten the skin....loss of estrogen is what gives us most signs of aging....

We are caught between a rock & a hard place....that is my opinion & I am sticking to it.

NancyD

Barbara, some women have switched to rice milk and claim it's good.

Husband11

Look for protein bars that are using whey protein instead of soy.  They tend to be more expensive, but its a complete protein unlike soy (not lacking an essential amino acid).  Most products contain soy lecithin as an emulsifier, and soy lecithin is not a concern for ER+ as it is a specific component of soy that doesn't have the phytoestrogens at all or in concentration.

Rosemary44

Soy lecithin and soybean oil has a residue of all the pesticides and chemicals they use in processing soy.  One chemical is the same that is used in DRANO.  They can't extract it out. 

I've switched to organic almond milk.  I found it in Whole Foods.  I've heard that there was olive oil mayo and couldn't find it.  I'll look closer since Nancy uses it.  It has to be in one of my stores by now. 

Anonymous

If you are looking for a great buttery spread - try Earth Balance soy-free buttery spread - you can get it at Whole Foods or just about any health food store.  I was using Brummel & Brown, had been for years, because it is yogurt based and healthy.  Well, reading the label one day (as I now do to avoid as much soy as possible) found it has soy in it.  Actually, I'm loving the Earth Balance so much better - it really is the closest thing to real butter I've ever found and it cooks up just like butter.  Insanely good!

I was doing all kinds of soy supplements and bars, veggie foods (most prepared with soy - I wrote to the people who make Garden Burgers to find out what is in them, they told me the veggie burgers are okay, but everything else - the chicken patties, black bean patties, veggie sausage - my favorite, all are soy based - darn it!!) - and I stopped immediately.  Now we have to become more avid label readers is all. 

dlb823

The problem I have with rice milk or almond milk or oat milk (my favorite) is that I don't use very much of them, so frequently end up thowing out half-used containers because they seem to spoil before I use them up.  Any tips or suggestions?   Deanna

Desny

Hi,

I am Er+ and on Arimidex and no one including my oncologist has told me not to use

products containing soy.  My endocrnoglist has told me not to use some protein shakes

from Shaklee because it could interfer with my thryroid.  I find it unusual that my cancer

doctor would leave this information out.  I will ask her in Nov when I go for 4 month check up.

This thread is great.  Thanks for all the information and sharing of ideas.

Baxter

Hi Ladies,

I was checking out the soy issues online. I eat Luna Bars and they even state it's a new recipe and  "the whole nutrition bar for women." On the back it says they are active sponsors of the Breast Cancer fund.org. Wouldn't you think with those statements and relationship to a breast cancer organization that they would feel confident that their bars are safe?

Among other healthy ingredients and vitamins, their bars contain soy protein isolate, organic roasted soybeans and  organic soy flour and organic soy lecithin.

I sent an email to them asking about the E+ issue and the soy in their bars and I never heard back. I'm bummed too  Samiam, because a bar and a cup off coffee and I was good to go.

So, should I assume that with such conflicting opinions, that I need to give them up until someone can definitivly prove they are okay?

Candi

nene2059

There are conflicting reports on soy and hormone positive BC but I did give up Zone and Luna bars (even though that may not have been necessary) for Larabars.  They are soy, dairy, wheat, and a few other things free.  They are delish especially the Peanut Butter Cookie and Peanut Butter and Jelly ones.  Maybe give them a try.  They are my breakfast of choice and I enjoy them with a cup of coffee too! 

bexybexy

OMG! I have just posted on this in another forum. I have been diagnosed with DCIS and I am one of these people who likes to analyse the reasons why for everything. I went vegan 2 years ago (have been vegetarian for 10 years). Every other day I have been eating this fake chicken pieces simply because they are so versatile in everything and guess what? Looking at the ingredients they contain soya protein isolate! I won't be having them anymore just to be on the safe side. It is difficult if you don't eat meat or protein as I too rely on soya. However there are alternatives, Have seen other fake meat products that don't use this ingredient. I drink a milk now that is dairy free and made using coconut. Almond milk in the UK is expensive, if it was cheaper I would drink that as it's delicious. Again I agree soya in natural form is ok, though it wasn't until recently that I was aware you should consume it in moderation! I never knew that and have been drinking loads of soya milk eating tofu in vast amounts etc...none of this information is ever made widely available to vegetarians and vegans! There are protein powders that use pea protein I have seen of course I can't have whey.

I have friends who are raw food vegans and while I could never go that far I can definately incorporate some of the ideas in my plan. Things like nuts and seeds are great and also high in protein and I do try to eat lots of raw veggies and fruit when I can. Beans are also great for veggies and vegans and very high in protein too. I saw a site called Foods for Breast Cancer but I think personally it goes a bit far as it even mentions certain types of beans and avacados as being not good. I think if I listened completely to this sort of advice would become quite obsessive about the whole thing, and what we need to remember is none of these claims have been completely proven.

One thing we should remember is that it IS general consenus and agreed upon by medical professionals alike that alchohol and smoking are big factors. Well I don't smoke or drink a lot so keep thinking I shouldn't beat myself up too much over the soya factor and I hope others can take comfort in this. xxxxx

Lulu22

Just checked out the snack bars they give out at my chemo ward-soybean oil and soy lecithin!

The product warning reads, "Contains wheat, coconut, soy and milk ingredients". I'm not sure the soy levels are enough to be concerned about, but it's still ironic and I am going to call it to someone's attention.