soy

Combating Breast Cancer with Dr. Kristi Funk

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

In this compelling episode, board-certified breast cancer surgeon Dr. Kristi Funk shares her personal and professional journey, from traditional surgery to an advocate for holistic, plant-based medicine. She reveals the powerful role of lifestyle choices, including diet, exercise, and hormones, in preventing and combating breast cancer. Dr. Funk dispels common myths about foods like soy and dairy, offering science-backed insights for a healthier, more empowered life. Tune in to discover how you can actively take control of your breast health and reduce your cancer risk.

Key Areas We Discuss

  • Dr. Kristi Funk’s journey from general to breast cancer surgery

  • The profound emotional impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on women

  • The power of nutrition and lifestyle in disease prevention

  • Dr. Funk’s transition to a plant-based, lifestyle-focused approach

  • Scientific evidence supporting a plant-based diet for cancer prevention

  • The relationship between dairy consumption and breast cancer risk

  • Understanding different types of fats and their effect on health

  • The truth about soy and its relationship to breast cancer

  • Navigating mammograms and other breast screening methods

  • The importance of physical activity and exercise

  • Managing hormone levels to reduce cancer risk

Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Kristi Funk, M.D.:

Kristi Funk, M.D. is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon & physician, bestselling author, international keynote speaker and women’s health advocate. After graduating with distinction from Stanford University in 1991, Dr. Funk received her medical degree from the UC Davis, School of Medicine, and completed her surgical residency in Seattle, WA, followed by a surgical breast fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she excelled as a Director of their Breast Center until 2009. Dr. Funk then co-founded the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Los Angeles where she practices as a breast cancer surgeon and expert in minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment methods for all types of breast disease. She has helped thousands of women navigate breast issues, including well-known celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Sheryl Crow. As an ambassador and avid contributor to the Pink Lotus Power Up community, Dr. Funk hosts a cooking show in the Cancer-Kicking! Kitchen, frequently authors Breast Cancer 101 blogs, and provides instructional videos on breast health. Her extensive research into nutritional science caused her to expand the passion for her medical practice with the life-empowering Cancer-Kicking! Summit which teaches women (and men) how to maximally reduce their chances of facing cancer or any other controllable killer disease.

She is the go-to breast expert for Good Morning America and Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Media; she was a co-host of The Doctors tv show, and has repeatedly appeared on Today, Rachael Ray, The Dr. Oz Show, CNN, The View, and more, as well as countless radio and podcast interviews. Dr. Funk has received dozens of honors and awards and uses her appearances to educate and give back to the community. She resides in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband, Andy Funk, and triplet sons.

Combating Breast Cancer with Dr. Kristi Funk Read More »

An Update on Soy

Blog /

This is an update on soy. Still lots of confusion and concern out there.

Bottom LINE: Soy products are okay. There is a significant concern regarding soy and its association with cancer that many people are afraid to it. The data does not pan out.

Consider: Asian countries drink soy milk, eat tofu and soy beans (edamame) abundantly and don’t have a higher incidence of breast cancer. Asian countries do NOT have more breast cancer and in fact have a lower incidence. The Western nations, in fact, are leading the pack.

The Details: Soy has received lots of press lately. There have been small animal studies that have linked high doses of soy protein isolate or isolated isoflavones to increased cancer risk. Soy is metabolized differently in humans from rodents so we can’t compare rodents and humans in this situation. Further, human studies on soy protein isolate have not shown any difference from other soy products. We have seen in study that soy products such as soy milk, soy beans and tofu are of benefit to our bodies. In the US, we use a lot of concentrated forms of soy in our supplements and energy bars: a different way to eat soy. While they have not been shown to be of harm, more studies on these highly concentrated/processed soy products are needed.

Soy is full of isoflavones which are natural estrogens. While are estrogens, they appear to have an anti-estrogen effect where they prevent the natural estrogens from binding to the receptors (a good thing). They also have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. They stop the formation of estrogen in fat tissue (recall obese patients have more breast cancer than thing patients) and they bind to the estrogen proteins which is another way it prevents estrogen from binding to a receptor. Studies on Asian women who eat soy the most isoflavones (compared to the least abundant eaters) had a significantly less (29%) risk of developing breast cancers. US studies have not found any bad affects either of eating soy. Studies even on breast cancer survivors have shown no detriment. There is data to suggest soy eaters have less prostate and colon cancers.

SO: eat your soy! Enjoy it, often and much. It is a great source of fulfillment for those who are plant based and a nice alternative for all. Don’t be afraid of it. But eat it from natural sources like our Asian country counterparts: soy milk, tofu, edamame. Don’t take a supplement or powder. Stay away from genetically modified soy. Look for the non-GMO words. Organic will be non-GMO. Be natural!

Wu AH, Yu M, Tseng C-C, Pike MC Epidemiology of soy exposures and breast cancer risk, Br J Cancer. 2008 Jan 15; 98(1): 9–14.

Shu, X. The Journal of the American Medical Association, Dec. 9, 2009; vol 302: pp 2437-2443.

An Update on Soy Read More »

What is the deal with soy? Good or bad for us?

Blog /

People asking about soy milk lately. Soy good or bad? Causes cancer or not? Soy is quite popular in the US. It comes if forms of whole soybeans (edamame), soymilk, soybean oil, tofu, tempeh, miso, and many vegetarian meat and dairy substitues. Soy has gotten bad press lately because soy products are made up of isoflavones. Isoflavones are phytoestrogens and it has been hypothesized that this extra estrogen would excessive; thus, increasing the risk of cancers, specifically breast cancers. Studies DO NOT support this. In fact, studies show that people who eat soy may have a decreased risk of cancer compared to those with no soy in their diets. There was a 2012 analysis of 9514 women from US and China. Those people who took in the most soy had a 25% less likelihood of developing recurrent cancer. There is data to suggest soy eaters have less prostate, colon and breast cancers. This may be in part due to the fact that those isoflavones are phytoestrogens but have an opposite effect than previously suspected. These phyoestrogens may actually block the effects of estrogens. Importantly though, soy has shown benefit in estrogen negative cancers as well.

There is also concern about male fertility. Studies show that soy does not have an adverse affect on male hormones (testosterone). Soy infant formulas will not affect the babies’ reproductive health. There is also a role in inflammation. Inflammation is the source of most chronic illnesses. One thousand Chinese women who ate more soy had less inflammation. Soy reduced hot flashes in menopause as well!

Bottom Line

It is okay and in fact good to eat soy!! But please remember whole soy products are the best; i.e. edamame, soymilk, tofu, miso. Remember, studies were not done on the processed soys: like soy protein isolates. Processed foods come with their issues and the soy protein isolates have some questionable health benefits. Also we need to consider the role of genetically modified soybeans. Try to eat non-GMO soy. But, Enjoy soy. Dont be afraid to have your kids drink it. It is all good! Now, dont overdo it because you think it will decrease your risk of cancer. Just eat it as a great protein and nutrient source as you desire but dont overdo it!

What is the deal with soy? Good or bad for us? Read More »

Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top