Did you know that prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States? Or that more than 70% of these cases occur in men age 65 and older? Or that African-American men are at higher risk than other ethnic groups for developing the disease?
Looking at these facts, you would probably say that prostate cancer only affects older men, so why bother? The hard truth is that this disease can affect anyone at any time, including you.
Although there is still no irrefutable proof as to the specific cause of this type of cancer, there are predisposing factors that have been linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. I am referring to age, ethnicity, heredity, high testosterone production, diet and lifestyle. While there is not much you can do about most of these, there is certainly something that can be done to correct your diet and lifestyle. Modifying those two contributing factors may allow you to reduce your risk of developing this cancer. So let’s take a closer look at the role diet might play in prostate cancer.
Several studies suggest that perhaps as many as 75% of all cases of prostate cancer can be eliminated with a change in diet. The researchers found that patients who had switched to a low-fat diet along with fish oil supplements had seen a slowdown in the development or growth of cancer cells. The slower it is, the less chance the cancer cells will spread and the better your chances of survival. Make sense.
Here are suggested dietary changes that may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Avoid a high-fat diet. Several studies suggest that diets rich in saturated fat are linked to a higher incidence of cancer. So these are the foods you need to remove from the menu: fried foods, processed meats (yes, bacon and pepperoni are out), French fries, pastries, butter, margarine, cream, dairy products, coconut oil, and palm oil. . Eating foods like these says that you are challenging the Big C to attack.
Lovefish. Fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that can keep your prostate healthy. And your heart too.
Choose healthy oils like canola oil, olive oil, and flaxseed oil.
Substitute high-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese for their low-fat equivalents.
try to be Soy has been found to reduce the risk of prostate cancer because it contains phytoestrogens that fight cancer or slow cancer growth. Readily available soy products include tofu, soybeans, and soy milk.
Tomatoes, tomatoes and more tomatoes. Tomatoes, along with other fruits such as apricots, pink grapefruit, watermelon, raspberries, and papaya, contain lycopene. It is a proven and very powerful antioxidant. Not only does it fight certain types of cancer, but lycopene is also your heart’s best friend. Bonus Tip: Eat tomatoes cooked rather than raw to better absorb the lycopene.
Stock your fridge with pomegranates. Pomegranate fruits and juices contain phytochemicals that lower PSA levels in prostate cancer patients.
Become a green tea lover. Green tea contains catechins that help prevent certain types of cancer. Weight control is also often recommended for people at high risk of prostate cancer. And drinking green tea can help promote weight loss.
Other foods that are more beneficial for prostate health are cereals, whole grains, lentils, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and other fruits and vegetables.
Studies have shown that a diet rich in selenium and vitamin D can also reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Selenium can be found in food sources such as oatmeal and Brazil nuts. While vitamin D can be found in tuna, mackerel and salmon. Although you can also improve your natural production of vitamin D through exposure to the sun for about 15 minutes a day.
Naturally, a dietary change that includes many of the foods mentioned here should only be one part of your efforts to change your lifestyle. It would also be wise to exercise regularly and learn how to manage stress to improve not only prostate health, but overall health as well. There are still no guarantees that even if you follow such a healthy lifestyle and diet, you won’t fall in love. Sometimes things just work that way.
