Soaking soybeans in warm water could be a much easier, environmentally friendly way of extracting a cancer-fighting substance that is currently manufactured in a complicated industrial process. Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI), naturally found in soybeans, has shown promise in clinical trials for preventing certain types of cancer. However, the process of extracting the BBI from the soybeans is time-consuming and involves harsh chemicals. In a new study, scientists found that incubating the soybean seeds in water at 122 degrees Fahrenheit naturally releases large amounts of BBI that can be easily harvested from the water. The BBI harvested from water was proven to be active, with tests showing that it stopped breast cancer cells from dividing in a laboratory dish.