Diet and Prostate Cancer
You already know that age, race, and health all play an important role in marking you high risk for prostate cancer.
Your doctor has probably already told you to exercise more and manage your weight as the first steps to fighting prostate cancer.
In fact, according to numerous studies, the most important fight against prostate cancer often occurs in our kitchens.
So how does diet affect prostate cancer growth, development, and remission in men?
An article published in 2009, for Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, revealed evidence that traditional Japanese diets, with an emphasis on the consumption of fish and soybean products, may be effective in preventing the development of prostate cancer.
There may be something to this. Studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that prostate cancer incidences are extremely low in native Japanese men. The significant difference between Japanese and Western men was found in their diets, prompting researchers to assert that an increase of soy products, fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, and the consumption of antioxidant-rich green tea can lower the risk for prostate cancer.
However, the rate of prostate cancer in Asian men is increasing, particularly for those men who live in urban environments.
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America, and North American residents, are known far and wide for their obesity. The consumption of American staples, such as fried food, foods high in saturated fat and sugar, and red meat, have harmful effects on health, and certain studies believe the increase in prostate cancer among Asian men is due to the emergence of a more Western lifestyle, including the Westernization of their diets.
There is also evidence to support the Mediterranean diet, rich in whole, plant-based foods and omega-3 fatty acids, may protect men against prostate carcinogenesis.
Both of these diets have one thing in common: a reduction in the consumption of red meat, animal fats, and fried foods.
How Does Diet Help Prevent Prostate Cancer?
These dietary guidelines are crucial to weight maintenance, and weight maintenance is crucial to lowering your risk for prostate cancer.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, there are links between obesity and the development of certain cancers.
An excess of stomach fat is especially detrimental to your health. Because the fat in your stomach grows quickly, it can outgrow its blood supply. This causes the death of fat cells, which causes a chain reaction of inflammatory events in your body, such as an overproduction of insulin. Your body’s reaction to excess fat leads to heart disease, diabetes, and promotes the growth of cancerous cells.
Prostate Health May Begin in the Kitchen
All of these studies show that cleaning out your fridge could be the first step to lowering your risk for prostate cancer. Here are some dietary rules for reducing your risk:
1. Increase your intake of fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables
Studies show that carotenoids and isoflavones are key ingredients in the prevention of prostate cancer development.
Carotenoids are fat-soluble pigments, found in orange, red, and yellow fruits and vegetables. These pigments are turned into vitamin A by our bodies and are chock-full of antioxidants.
Isoflavones are organic compounds found in vegetables that can exert estrogen-like effects upon the body. Soy products are full of isoflavones, and are shown to have cancer-preventing potential.
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2. Eat More Tomatoes
According to a study done by the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins, lycopene, a red-pigment carotenoid found in tomatoes, can aid in prostate protection. This is because lycopene actually reaches your prostate, unlike many antibiotics and other supplements or medicines.
3. Eat a diet high in Fiber
The University of California San Francisco Medical Center has found that a diet high in fiber can prevent – and even reduce the growth of – prostate cancer. UCSF asserts that fiber bind to the carcinogens in our bodies, eliminating them as waste. Men should aim for 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily, which can be found in nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
4. Eat Fish…In Moderation
A study on the effects of fatty acids on prostate growth found that omega-3 fatty acids may inhibit cancer cell growth. Reports on this are conflicting, with some stating that fish oil can lead to cancer, and others stating that diets high in fish oil prevent the inflammation of cancerous tissues.
The consumption of fish over red meat or poultry has been proven to have many health benefits, including lowering cholesterol.
Although the jury is still out, multiple studies tout the benefits of diets including unsaturated fats, and incorporating fish into your diet is an excellent way to make sure you are consuming good fats.
5. Avoid Red Meat, Animal Fats, and Fried Foods
Prostate cancer prevention may mean you have to avoid firing the grill.
The same study by Johns Hopkins University that boasts the benefits of tomatoes, recommends against putting them on a char-grilled burger.
Apparently, charring meats and frying foods creates carcinogens, which, in turn, are catalysts for cancer development and growth. A study conducted by the American Association for Cancer Research also found links between red meat consumption and the increased risk for advanced prostate cancer.
While research is still being conducted regarding the links between animal fats and prostate cancer, it still may be a good idea to limit the consumption of these foods and to replace them with heart-healthy foods. The decrease in consumption of trans fats is integral to combating obesity, which is a red flag risk factor for prostate cancer.
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6. Lower Your Sugar Intake
The Prostate Cancer Foundation reports that cancerous cells in our bodies could be fueled by sugar.
According to the PCF, these cells live with low oxygen, and rely on carbs and sugars for fuel for energy. If your diet is high in sugar, you are providing more energy to these cells and promoting their growth.
Do all of these guidelines sound familiar? If they do, it’s because these are similar to the dietary guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association, designed to increase cardiovascular health and decrease risk for heart disease.
Heart disease is still the number one killer in the United States, and obesity and inactivity are contributing factors to its development, as well as the development of prostate cancer.
When it comes to preventing heart disease, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. The Journal of Clinical Oncology found that diets used to prevent heart disease, focused on plant-based, heart-healthy foods, combined with exercise, are effective tools used to lower the risk factors for developing prostate cancer.
Are You At Risk for Prostate Cancer?
Science and medical research are finding more and more reasons to believe the old adage “you are what you eat.” The addition of certain foods high in lycopene and the increase of plant-based food, combined with an active lifestyle, can be instrumental in preventing and lowering your risk for prostate cancer.
Many researchers are still studying the effects of diet on cancer, but maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle should always be made a priority. The possibility of cancer allows us to think more about how our bodies run, and what fuel we put into them.
You should talk to your doctor and assess the nutritional value of your current diet before beginning any new health or fitness regimen.