Cancer of the prostate gland is one of the most common types of cancer affecting men. Although some types of prostate cancer grow rapidly, other types grow slowly and respond well to lifestyle changes, such as dietary modifications that include adding whole-wheat products to your menu. Talk to your doctor before making major changes to your normal diet, especially if you have cancer or any other serious health condition.
Diet
A healthy diet may help minimize the risk of prostate cancer and reduce the progression of the disease, according to the University of California. As much as one-third of all cancer deaths may be due to diet during adulthood. Consuming certain foods, including whole-grain cereals and breads, may help lower your risk of developing prostate cancer. In addition to consuming more whole-wheat products, consuming more fruits and vegetables, especially colorful varieties, may also help reduce your risk of this disease.
Whole Grain
Unlike processed flour, whole-grain products include the entire inner and outer portion of the seed, or grain, portion of the plant. The USCD Cancer Center, a San Diego medical center, recommends eating at least two whole-grain servings of food each day, such as whole-wheat bread. Substituting whole-wheat cereals, crackers and breads for those that contain refined flour, as well as adding cracked wheat or wheat germ to recipes, can help increase the amount of fiber and phytonutrients in your diet.
Fiber
A diet rich in fiber may help minimize the risk and progression of prostate disease by binding to carcinogens and toxic compounds, later eliminating them from your body. The fiber from whole-wheat grains can help increase the fecal bulk, speeding the excretion of waste from your body and decreasing the amount of time fecal mutagens can interact with your intestinal cells. The fiber content of whole-grain products may vary, making it important to check the product labels for exact amounts. The University of California recommends choosing breads that contain at least 3 g of fiber in each slice.
Nutrients
Whole-wheat foods contain phytonutrients, nutrients that naturally exist in plant-based foods. Nutrients in whole-grain foods that may play a role in cancer protection include magnesium and zinc. Whole grains also contain phytoestrogens, plant-based hormones that appear to bind with testosterone, possibly providing a protective mechanism. More research is necessary to determine how the phytonutrients and phytoestrogens in whole-grain products protect the prostate and affect the growth of reproductive cancers.
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