Estrogen inhibiting foods...What's good, what's bad..

so eating the estrogen rich foods is bad for estrogen + folks like me?  Yikes! 

Coffee---does that include decaf?

As Lucy said, that list has been going around.  The most recent medical research which I've read, and which can be found on links from bco's home page, indicates that natural soy/estrogen producing foods play little part in estrogen positive breast cancer.  To me, the bottom line is that we should try to eat a balanced diet, get a decent amount of exercise, and limit our vices.  To me, to live otherwise wouldn't be living.  I didn't do anything to deserve getting breast cancer.  I have tried to live a bit healthier since my diagnosis, but from what I read and from the discussions I've had with my doctor, enjoying some estrogen containing foods will not increase my chances for a recurrence of my er/pr+ cancer.  Hugs to all, and please ... see your glass as half full and live your lives in a way that makes you happy.

It appears that all fruits red and bright in colour are rich in esrogen so are the vegetables like red beans However, green beans and black beans which are rich in calcium for boiling in soup with dried longans and pork ribs should be alright I am taking cracked spores lingzhi, 3 capsules an hour before meal, twice a day Lingzhi (ganoderma lucidum) blocks the MCF-7 pathway of estrogen cells You may read the research from webmed nih.gov

I am taking Arimidex, early this year I have a new cancer on my left breast, 7 mm HER+ER-PR- My body is weak after mastectomy, my doctor at St Luke hospital did a blood test on my anion gap and B complex As my anion gap is high and B complex is low, I have peripheral neuropathy therefore not suitable for chemotherapy

Currently, I am taking Yunzhi (Coriolus versicolor) 5 capsules twice a day, an hour before meal

Besides, I am taking 22 types of herbs prescribed by my TCM oncologist

Just came back from wellness centre, my cancer markers are very low

I need to take calcium tablet with vitamin D3, neurobion for my balance probelm, lingzhi and yunzhi

Foodwise, I take eggs, fish and once in a blue moon, steam lobster

Lots of foods and fruits contain estrogen but we are unable to eliminate all of them otherwise we will fall into depression living under the bondages of too many forbidden foods

I do avoid all soya products, milk, cheese, yoghurt but substitute with almond milk and calcium tablets and glucosamine

All breast cancer survivors should focus on eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard green, endives

Cucumber is rich in estrogen, eat bitter gourds fry with black bean sauce

Just learn that capsicums are rich in estrogen too, therefore we need to eat the lingzhi cracked spores powder as a medicine to block the MCF-7 estrogen path

Trust in God, then pray before you eat

Exercise is important, I do power walkand talk to God before dinner time and before breakfast

DX Aug 2011 ER+PR-HER- 8/18 nodes ACX2, Paclitaxel 12 weekly Radiation 5 weeks Right mastectomy

DX Jan 2015 HER+ER-PR- node free 7mm, no chemotherapy, no radiation Left Mastectomy Arimidex,lingzhi, yunzhi (Anastrozole,ganoderma luciderm and coriolus versicolor)

Hi:

Always an interesting topic. However, I am not sure what data supports the classification of white rice and white flour as estrogen inhibiting. Even if they were, I would caution against eating these for the purpose of reducing estrogen. Much as I love them, it is well-established that white rice, pasta and other processed white flour products, which contain a disaccharide of glucose not associated with fiber, have a high glycemic index (cause spikes in blood sugar), and increase levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor (bad). Over-consumption can lead to weight gain (undesirable for breast cancer survivors regardless of hormone receptor status), reduce insulin sensitivity, and contribute to metabolic syndrome. If one succeeds in being a survivor, it is probably best not to have been eating a lot of processed carbohydrates. Dietary guidelines recommend limiting processed carbohydrates including white rice, and instead encourage eating whole grain products (white rice is not "whole-grain"). See for example:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/health...

And from Johns Hopkins:

"Whole grains are unprocessed foods that are high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. High fiber intakes may have a positive benefit by altering hormonal actions of breast cancer and other hormonal-dependent cancers. Daily fiber intake should be 25 to 35 grams of insoluble and soluble fiber."

BarredOwl

I just saw a naturopathic oncologist today and specifically asked about soy because I'm vegan and it would be difficult for me to replace soy protein. I had read so may conflicting reports that I needed a definitive answer. He said foods (including soy milk) made from whole beans (like tofu, tempeh) are ok 2 to 3 times a week because they have so many good, protective qualities and are beneficial regardless of what type of cancer one has. He said the thing to avoid is the isolated soy protein that is found in lots of vegan meat and cheese substitutes, energy bars, and some soy milks. Isolated soy protein contains concentrated isoflavones which we ER+ should avoid.

Another thing I asked him about was foods that reduce estrogen and he said there are none proven to do so. He didn't have any recommendations for me.

The foods he told me to avoid are meat, dairy, eggs (which I already avoid being vegan for 8 years), highly processed foods, flours of any kind, junk like sodas, and get lots of fiber, including ground flax seeds (which some people think are prohibited for ER+ but he doesn't think so). He also said 6-8 servings (he described them as handfuls) of veggies and 2-3 servings of fruit every day along with lots of whole grains. He specifically mentioned eating from the broccoli family and berries every single day.

Quinoa is a complete protein and vegan acceptable. While not Paleo, it is one of my favorite "cheat" foods. Be sure to rinse it well before using (I have a mesh strainer for this purpose) otherwise it has a bitter taste. I use it like oatmeal, add a bit of fruit and some almond or coconut milk, but there are lot of recipes that use quinoa for something besides breakfast food..