Prostate cancer affects men of all ages and is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men. When a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, he will get routine followup PSA or prostate-specific antigen tests. Physicians will use these tests to help them monitor whether the treatment that is being administered is working or to see if the cancer has resurfaced. In addition to treatment, lowering PSA levels could be as simple as making some dietary changes.
Foods High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Although saturated and trans fats are associated with a higher risk of cancer, eating omega-3 fats can help reduce or prevent cancer including prostate cancer, according to Mayo Clinic.com. In a study published in the August 2006 issue of the journal "Clinical Cancer Research," Dr. William Aronson and colleagues concluded that eating more omega-3 fatty acids may reduce prostate cancer tumor growth rates and PSA levels. The study found that the participants who consumed omega-3 fatty acids, their tumor growth rates were lowered by 22 percent and their PSA levels were reduced by 77 percent. Omega-3 fatty acids to incorporate into the diet should come from cold water fish such as herring, mackerel, and salmon, flax seeds, flaxseed oil and walnuts.
Soy And Legumes
Soy products such as tofu and legumes contain phytoestrogens known as isoflavones, which are plant compounds that act like the hormone estrogen in the human body and therefore may also be helpful at lowering PSA levels. According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, consuming soy isoflavones can help slow down PSA levels. However, there is not enough evidence to show that soy foods can reverse PSA levels. More studies are necessary but MayoClinic.com suggests soy products would explain why Asian men have lower rates of prostate cancer.
Pomegranate Juice
The newest food to possibly lower PSA levels is pomegranate juice. A study conducted by Stanford University urologist Allan Pantuck, MD, and colleagues, and presented at the American Urological Association's annual scientific meeting in Chicago showed that by drinking just 8 ozs. of pomegranate juice daily can slow down the development of prostate cancer. The study included 48 men who had prostate cancer and underwent treatment with radiation or surgery. After the participant's treatment was complete, their PSA levels were tested again but were found to be doubling. Researchers required all participants to start drinking the pomegranate juice, and the results showed that their PSA levels started to slow down. In fact, after just three months of drinking pomegranate juice daily, participant's PSA levels took four times as long to double than they did from the beginning of the study.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Prostate cancer prevention: What you can do
- MedlinePlus: PSA
- Harvard Health Publications: Health benefit of pomegranate juice on prostate cancer and the heart
- Science News: Altering Fatty Acid Levels In Diet May Reduce Prostate Cancer Growth Rate
- Linus Pauling Institute: Soy Isoflavones
