Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. In a recent year, over 220,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and nearly 30,000 died from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diet appears to play a role in the development of prostate cancer, notes oncologist Dr. Bill Nelson of Johns Hopkins. Specifically, eating less meat and dairy and maximizing consumption of certain key nutrients may benefit your prostate. Before starting any new diet or treatment, always talk to your health specialist.
Increase Selenium
Selenium is an essential mineral present in foods such as seafood, brown rice and Brazil nuts. It functions as an important anti-oxidant, scavenging free radicals that can turn normal cells cancerous. In addition, selenium levels decrease with age, and risk for prostate cancer increases. According to Johns Hopkins, meeting the daily requirement for selenium may offer protection. The recommended intake for adults is 55 micrograms per day, or the amount of selenium present in two Brazil nuts.
Minimize Dairy
A link exists between prostate cancer and an animal-based diet, particularly one based heavily on dairy, notes T. Colin Campbell, author of "The China Study." Dairy products including milk, cheese and ice cream increase your body's production of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, or IGF-1. This hormone increases cancer cell growth. In addition, animal protein suppress the production of vitamin D, and low levels of this hormone-like vitamin are associated with an increased of cancer, including cancer of the prostate.
Avoid Charred Meat
Eating charred meat may be a risk factor for prostate cancer, notes Nelson. Grilling and frying foods such as hamburgers, pork chops and steaks creates carcinogens. These cancer-causing substances damage the DNA present in prostate cells, and have been linked to prostate cancer in laboratory animals. Additional research is required, but until then, avoiding browned meats may be a step in the direction of continued prostate health.
Considerations
Other candidates to maintain prostate health include vitamin E and lycopene. However, Nelson maintains that further research is needed before foods rich in these nutrients can be touted for their anti-cancer properties as regards the prostate. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin found in vegetable oils, nuts such as almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts, as well as in spinach and avocado. Lycopene, which gives some fruits their pinkish hue, is present in grapefruit, guava, watermelon and tomatoes.
References
- "Pathologic Basis of Disease"; Vinay Kumar; 2005
- Johns Hopkins - Brady Urological Institute - Prostate Cancer Update
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Prostate Cancer
- Linus Pauling Institute; Micronutrient Information Center: Selenium
- Linus Pauling Institute; Micronutrient Information Center: Vitamin E
- "The China Study"; T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D.; 2006
