Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer in American men over 70-years-old. Special dietary considerations should be made when following a diet during prostate cancer treatment. Research shows that eating certain foods, while avoiding others may help to reduce disease progression and prevent recurrence for some individuals.
Foods to Include
Research published in the "Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics" shows that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables should be part of meal plan for men who have prostate cancer. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, are especially important to include as this vegetable group contains sulfuraphone, an important anti-cancer metabolite. Green tea and unprocessed soy foods, such as tofu and edamame, should also be included as leading nutrition experts are extrapolating the connection between the low incidence of prostate cancer in Japan and the traditional Japanese diet, which is rich in soy and tea. Foods rich in selenium may also help protect again prostate cancer cells. Eating one Brazil nut will meet the recommended daily selenium intake.
The Dietary Fat and Cancer Connection
Recent research published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" indicates that men who have prostate cancer may want to limit the amount of eggs and chicken with skin eaten on a regular basis. This research comes after other studies have shown the connection between diets high in red meat and saturated fat have a predictive higher incidence of prostate cancer.
Other Diet Considerations
Limiting charred meats is an important dietary modification to reduce risk of all forms of cancer. Charred meats contain an active carcinogen called heterocyclic amines. A higher concentration of heterocyclic amines is found in grilled meats and fried foods. Men who has prostate cancer may also want to limit large quantities of dairy rich foods and calcium supplements. Consuming large amounts of calcium reduces the amount of vitamin D in the body, which is thought to be protective against prostate cell proliferation.
