Diet for Prostate Cancer Treatment

Many claims have been made about the preventive and curative effect of specific foods on prostate cancer. While it's true that tomatoes, pomegranates and soybeans contain substances that can help fight prostate cancer, the real focus of a treatment diet is on three specific substances found in a wide variety of foods: protein, fiber and antioxidants. Choose foods that contain these substances to help your prostate health.

Protein

Although there have been no definitive studies to back it, red meat has long been associated with the development of prostate cancer. Diets that exclude red meat also tend to be lower in fat, especially saturated fat. That's why any diet devoted to prostate health omits or cuts way back on red meat and instead features moderate amounts of seafood, poultry, egg whites and alternative sources of protein such as edamame, tofu and other soybean products.

Fatty fish, or dark-fleshed fish, such as salmon, bluefish, mackerel and sardines, have a twofold advantage in a prostate diet. They are high both in protein and in a particular type of fat called omega-3, a "healthy fat" that is believed to reduce the inflammation responsible for increased cell growth in cancer.

A diet for prostate cancer treatment should be a balanced, low-saturated-fat diet but not a high-protein diet. To maintain that balance, normal-size servings (3 to 6 oz.) of protein-rich foods should be served at each meal.

Fiber

A high-fiber diet is recommended for men with prostate cancer. Fiber helps move dietary fat through the intestines and out of the body before it has time to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

High-fiber foods include whole grains such as bulgur or cracked wheat and whole-grain products such as whole-wheat breads and pastas, multi-grain cereals, and brown and wild rices. Other high-fiber foods that are important in a prostate treatment diet are legumes, which include lentils, split peas and dried beans such as black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans and lima beans.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances found in food that protect body cells from damage that can lead to cancer. Most fresh fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and other substances that are known for their antioxidant capabilities. Fruits and vegetables that are especially high in antioxidants that fight prostate cancer include watermelon, papaya, apricots, blood oranges, pink grapefruit, tomatoes, sweet peppers and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, bok choy and Brussels sprouts.