Prostate cancer affects one out of every six men, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, or PCF. The prostate is not essential for life, but it is necessary for reproduction because it is used in the production of semen. The older you are, the more your risk of prostate cancer increases. There are changes you can make to your diet to reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer.
Skip the Meat
Skipping the meat at some meals can help reduce your risk of prostate cancer. Consuming meat regularly increases your testosterone and high levels of testosterone can contribute to enlargement of the prostate. According to the Cancer Project website, your risk of prostate cancer triples if you eat meat every day. Get your protein in the form of plant-based proteins such as beans, nuts, seeds, peanut butter and tofu.
Limit Your Dairy
Regular milk consumption can double your risk of prostate cancer, reports a study published in "Prostate" and cited by the Cancer Project. Dairy products can increase your risk of metastatic prostate cancer, notes the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center. Replace your dairy products with alternatives such as soy milk and soy yogurts.
Increase Your Fruits and Vegetables
According to the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center, men who eat at least 28 servings of fruits and vegetables per week have a reduced risk of prostate cancer compared with those who consume fewer than 14 servings per week. If at least three of those servings are cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, the risk of prostate cancer decreases by 41 percent.
Fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of cancer fighting vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals such as lycopene. Lycopene is found in high amounts in tomatoes, red peppers, watermelon and pink grapefruit. Also, the high fiber content found in fruits and vegetables can decrease your risk of cancer by removing toxic cancer causing compounds before they cause problems within your body.
Limit Your Intake of Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Omega-6 fatty acids can stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells when they are converted by your body into arachidonic acids, reports the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center. Although omega-6 fatty acid has some health benefits, it may be more important to decrease your intake if you are at risk for prostate cancer. This fatty acid is found in oils such as corn oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil and soy bean oil. Use olive oil or canola oil instead.
Get Enough Omega-3 Fatty Acid
Omega-3 fatty acids can decrease your risk of developing prostate cancer or the progression of the cancer by limiting the harm from arachidonic acid. Add omega-3 fatty acid to your diet at least two times a week in the form of fatty fish, flaxseed, walnuts and soybeans.
Get Enough Fluid
Drinking enough water throughout each day is important to your overall health and the hydration of your cells. Water is necessary to keep your cells filled with nutrients. Therefore, getting enough water each day will help keep your prostate cells healthy and aid in the removal of unwanted waste and toxins from your body.
