In last month’s Pearls for Health we debunked the idea that soybeans increased the risk for breast cancer. This month a recent study shows that soybean, and probably other legumes (beans), also reduce the risk of stomach cancer. “A study from Korea found that persons who eat the most soybean products have a decreased risk of stomach cancer. This is of special interest because stomach cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death in oriental nations – thought to be caused largely from their high intake of salt in the diet. This new report is a case-control study including 131 cases of stomach cancer compared to 393 matched controls without cancer. Researchers found that those eating the most soy products (determined by blood level of genistein, a marker for soy food intake) had a 46 percent decreased risk of developing stomach cancer compared to those with the lowest levels of soy intake.” (MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2010) So for better health, make sure you consume soy and other beans often.