Prostate Cancer Information
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Prostate cancer rates are on the rise, but by adding some healthy,
prostate-friendly foods to your diet, you may be able to reduce your risk.
- According to the American Cancer Society prostate cancer is the most common cancer
among men, affecting 1 in 7 men in the United States. - It’s believed that the high-fat, high-sugar Western diet may contribute to increased rates
of prostate cancer. - You’ll still need to see your doctor for regular prostate cancer screenings, but you can start boosting your prostate health by trying these six foods.
Tomatoes
- Tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene.
- It may help prevent prostate cancer as well as reduce tumor growth among men with
prostate cancer. - Further research is needed to confirm a benefit, but in one reviewof 11 studies,
researchers found a trend suggesting that men who ate more tomatoes & tomato
-based products, both raw & cooked, may be less likely to develop prostate cancer. - How exactly do tomatoes help?
1. Lycopene may decrease cell damage &slow cancer cell production.
2. But because lycopene is tightly bound to cell walls, our bodies have a difficult time
extracting it from raw tomatoes.
3. Cooked or pureed tomato products may be better options. Look to products like these:
tomato paste, spaghetti sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato juice & ketchup.
How to add more tomatoes to your diet
- Eating Italian-style foods, like pizza & pasta, may help you incorporate more tomato-based
foods into your diet. - Focus on Italian-style foods that use a tomato base, like spaghetti Bolognese or a caprese salad.
- In the summer months, you can buy fresh, local tomatoes to slice atop sandwiches & chop
into salads. - Drinking plain tomato juice each morning is another good option, just make sure to pick
a low-sodium variety
Broccoli
- Broccoli is a vegetable that contains many complex compounds that may help protect
some people from cancer. - Some studies suggest there’s a link between the amount of cruciferous vegetables you
eat & your prostate cancer risk. - The reasons why are still unclear, but researchers propose that one of the phytochemicals found in these vegetables, called sulforaphane, selectively targets & kills cancer cells while leaving normal prostate cells healthy & unaffected.
How to add more broccoli to your diet
- You can put broccoli in stir-fries, soups & salads, or you can just eat it on its own with
some dip. - If you worry about fresh vegetables going bad, consider buying frozen broccoli that you
can cook whenever you have the time.
Green Tea
- Green tea is a beverage that has been consumed for thousands of years.
- It has traditionally been a large part of peoples diets in Asian countries.
- It’s not clear if green tea is the reason why prostate cancer rates in Asia are so much
lower than in the United States. - However, components of green tea are being studied for their effects on health.
- These include catechin, xanthine derivatives, epigallocateshin-3-gallate (EGCG) &
epicatechin.
- There’s now some evidence to support that these compounds found in green tea may
prevent the development of prostate cancer. - In a review published by Chinese Medicine, researchers found a decreased risk of prostate cancer among men who consumed more than five cups of green tea per day.
How to add more green tea to your diet
- Start by drinking a cup each morning in place of your regular coffee.
- If you don’t drink caffeine, try a decaffeinated version & if you don’t like warm tea, try
cooling it in your refrigerator & adding ice for a cool & refreshing beverage. - You can also use cooled tea as the liquid in your homemade smoothies.
Legumes & Soybeans
- Legumes, such as beans, peanuts & lentils, contain biologically active plant compounds
known as phytoestrogens. - Isoflavones are one such phytoestrogen.
- They may contain cancer-fighting properties.
- This could suppress tumor growth in prostate cancer cells.
- While there’s still a need for more conclusive research, the preliminary research reported
by the National Cancer Institute shows a link between the consumption of soy & reduced
levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). - PSA is a protein produced by your prostate.
- The PSA testmeasures the level of PSA in your blood and is used as a screening test for prostate cancer.
- This research also seemed to indicate soy was more effective when it was eaten in
combination with other cancer-fighting foods.
How to add more legumes & soybeans to your diet
- To add more legumes & soybeans to your diet, consider eating a vegetarian diet for
one day each week. - Some people try what is called a Meatless Monday.
- This way, you can replace meat with the protein from beans.
- Try making a black bean burger with lots of veggies.
- Or you can dip pretzels in a homemade hummus made with chickpeas.
- Tofu is a tasty source of soy that you can bake or brown on your stove & flavor with sauces.
PomegranateJuice
- Much like red wine or green tea, pomegranate is a rich source of antioxidants.
- It’s been touted as a 'miracle fruit' in preventing chronic diseases related to oxidative
stress. - Scientists think the antioxidant found in pomegranate works in a 'seek and destroy'
method, exclusively targeting the prostate cancer cells & not the healthy cells. - Studies have found evidence that pomegranate juice & extract hinder the production
of different prostate cancer cells, though more research is needed.
How to add more pomegranate juice to your diet
- You can buy pomegranate juice at most grocery stores.
- If drinking it plain is too intense for you, consider diluting it with plain water or adding some sparkling water.
- You can also add it to homemade salad dressing to sweeten up your favorite salad.
FISH
- Polyunsaturated fats, like omega-3s and omega-6s, are essential fatty acids found
exclusively in the diet. - They’re not synthesized by the body.
- The traditional Western diet has a lot of omega-6 fatty acids but not many omega-3s.
- Having a healthier balance of omega-3 & omega-6 fatty acids may help prevent the development & progression of prostate cancer.
- In a review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition researchers found a link between eating fish & a reduced mortality rate from prostate cancer.
- Try eating fatty fish found in cold waters to increase your omega-3 intake.
These include: salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines & trout.
How to add more fish to your diet
- Adding more omega-3s to your diet can be as easy as cracking a can of sardines or tuna
& chowing down. - Not everyone is so enthusiastic about fish, though & it can also be expensive.
- If you haven’t enjoyed fish in the past, try a different type of fish, each fish has a unique
flavor. - The flavor is also milder if the fish is fresh, so your taste buds may enjoy fish more if you
buy it from a fish counter & make it that day. - Cod, flounder & trout have milder flavors.
- Try topping your fish with a lemon sauce or for an extra boost to your prostate, try baked
cod in a tomato sauce. - To stretch your dollar, you can also add fish to a hearty dish, like pasta, soup, salad or sandwiches.
- That way you won’t need as much fish to make a complete meal.
- You can also ask your doctor about taking fish oil supplements.
Outlook
- While more research needs to be done in the area of diet & prostate cancer, there is
evidence to suggest that certain foods may help reduce your risk for the disease. - It’s a good idea to check in with your doctor before making changes to your diet, especially
if you’re receiving treatment for prostate cancer as certain foods may interact with different drugs & therapies. - For example, some supplements that are high in antioxidants (e.g., pomegranate extract)
may counteract the effects of radiation therapy. - Therefore, you should avoid supplements with high levels of antioxidants during radiation treatment.
- That said, most of the items on this list are whole foods (not the store).
- Eating them is part of a healthy lifestyle & at very least, may help you feel your best.
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