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Unapologetically Wild with Mary GiordanoAuthor: Mary Giordano
Every day, you have a choice: to stay where you are or to step into a life of greater vitality, alignment, and growth. Unapologetically Wild is for women who are ready to take control of their lives, prioritize their well-being, and explore whats possible when they embrace change, intention, and a sense of adventure. Im Mary Giordano, a former nurse who left a 13-year career to pursue a life of freedom, exploration, and intentional living. Through reflections on mindset, health, travel, and outdoor adventure, Ill share stories and insights that inspire meaningful change. Whether its building healthier habits, stepping out of your comfort zone, or discovering new places and perspectives, this podcast is designed to inspire you to create a life that feels authentic,purposeful, and fulfilling. Its about showing up, doing the fkn thing, and realizing its not the mountains you climb, but the willingness to take the first stepmessy, scared, and unapologetically wild. Connect with me: Subscribe to Unapologetically Wild Chronicles: https://unapologetically-wild.kit.com/60a1bb0da9 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveunapologeticallywild/ Check out my Womens Group Trips at https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/mary-5cma2 Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Leisure Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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33. Soy: The Most Misunderstood Food In Women's Health
Tuesday, 10 February, 2026
Soy might be one of the most confusing foods in women's health. Depending on who you listen to, it's either a miracle superfood that will fix everything, or a hormone-disrupting danger that should be avoided at all costs. And when advice feels that extreme, most women do the safest thing they know how to do: they avoid it altogether. In this episode, we cut through the noise. No wellness hype. No fear-mongering. No cherry-picked rodent studies. Just what the actual human research says about soy, women's hormones, breast cancer, menopause, muscle, bone, and heart health, and how to decide if soy makes sense for you. In This Episode, We Cover Where the soy panic actually came from, and why early animal studies were misapplied to women What phytoestrogens really are (and why they don't act like estrogen in your body) What large human studies show about soy and breast cancer risk Whether soy is safe for breast cancer survivors, and what major cancer organizations say Why soy does not disrupt hormones or "flood your system with estrogen" Soy's role in muscle maintenance, heart health, and bone density in midlife What soy can and cannot do for menopause symptoms Why soy works for some women and not others (the equol factor) A practical framework to decide if soy belongs in your diet Key Takeaways Soy foods are not associated with increased breast cancer risk in human studies Soy is safe for breast cancer survivors and may be linked to lower recurrence Soy does not act like estrogen in the body Benefits for heart health, bone, and muscle are modest, real, and individual Soy isn't magic. It's also not dangerous. It's a high-quality plant protein with context-dependent benefits, and whether it makes sense for you depends on your life stage, health history, activity level, and how your body responds. Sources & Research Referenced This episode is based on peer-reviewed human research, including large observational studies, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses. Breast Cancer Risk Chen M, et al. Isoflavone Consumption and Risk of Breast Cancer: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 2023. Ziegler RG, et al. Migration patterns and breast cancer risk in Asian-American women. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1993. (PMID 8230262) Breast Cancer Survivors Nechuta SJ, et al. Soy food intake after diagnosis and breast cancer survival. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2012. Shu XO, et al. Soy food intake and breast cancer survival. JAMA, 2009. Zhang Y, et al. Soy intake and breast cancer prognosis. Nutrition & Cancer, 2024. American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR): Soy and Cancer - Myths and Misconceptions. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & MD Anderson Cancer Center patient guidance on soy foods. Hormones & Estrogenic Effects Messina M, et al. Isoflavones and estrogenic endpoints in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Advances in Nutrition, 2024. Menopause Symptoms Taku K, et al. Effects of soy isoflavones on hot flashes: meta-analysis of 36 clinical trials. Menopause, 2012. (PMID 22433977) Equol & Gut Microbiome Setchell KDR, et al. Equol production and health implications. Gut Pathogens, 2024. Heart, Muscle & Bone Health Sun Q, et al. Tofu intake and coronary heart disease risk. Circulation, 2020. Taku K, et al. Soy isoflavones and bone mineral density: meta-analysis of 52 randomized controlled trials. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2020. (PMID 31290343) Shanghai Women's Health Study - soy intake and fracture risk. (PMID 16157834) Administration for Community Living (ACL): protein intake guidance for older adults. Additional Evidence-Based Summaries Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - Straight Talk About Soy American Institute for Cancer Research - Soy and Cancer 💬 Let’s Stay Connected: Check out my Women's Group Trips Subscribe to UA Wild Chronicles (weekly newsletter) Connect with me on Instagram Follow me on Substack Subscribe to my Spotify Playlist ⚠️ Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, scientist, or medical expert, I'm your guide, not your prescriber. This podcast is for informational purposes only. I bring you research-backed conversations so you can ask better questions and make informed decisions, not to give you personal medical advice. Always check with a qualified health professional for your own situation, especially if you have pre-existing conditions or take medications. If this episode was valuable, share it with a friend who's navigating midlife and looking for real, evidence-based guidance. Until next time... Stay wild ⛰️💫🌵
