Update on the soy debate. (updates).

Previous fears that soy-rich diets contribute to breast cancer have been eased. In fact, according to the new research, soy could actually reduce a woman's odds of developing the disease.

It was once believed that consumption of tofu, soybeans and soy milk lowered the incidence of dense breast tissue, which is considered a high risk for breast cancer.

Then some scientists hinted that the estrogenic compounds in soy might interfere with hormone levels and encourage the growth of breast tumors. While the debate lacked scientific evidence, many women backed away from soy.

However, according to new research from three institutions--Cancer Research UK, based in London; the National University of Singapore; and the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland--soy could help reduce a woman's odds of developing breast cancer.

The scientists analyzed the results from two previous studies carried out in Singapore: one that researched women's diets and another that analyzed breast tissue density.

In the researchers' news release, women who ate the most soy were 60 percent less likely to have the high-risk breast tissue than women who ...