The prostate, a small gland found under the bladder and in front of the rectum, is an important part of the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, next to skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society, with about 1-in-6 men being diagnosed within their lifetime. Prostate cancer progresses slowly, so although natural therapies cannot cure prostate cancer, adding the following nutrients to your diet can help to further slow the progress or even prevent cancer before it starts.
Lycopene
Lycopene, found naturally in fruits and vegetables, is what gives tomatoes, watermelons and papaya their red color. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant, according to the Prostate Cancer Fund, meaning it has the ability to react with free radicals in the body, neutralizing them and preventing them from causing cellular damage that can lead to cancer.
Studies involving lycopene, according to research published in a 2008 issue of "Cancer Letters," indicate that it has anti-cancer properties. Lycopene triggers apoptosis, or cell death, in unhealthy and abnormal cells that may develop into cancer cells. Lycopene also has been shown to inhibit the spread of pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting cell growth and division.
Selenium
Selenium is a mineral found naturally in foods such as meats and grains, with the highest concentrations found in Brazil nuts. Selenium, an antioxidant, has undergone many clinical studies, according to the Prostate Cancer Fund, and researchers have found that an increase in selenium in the blood correlates to a decreased rate of prostate cancer. In addition, selenium may induce cell death in prostate cancer cells, resulting in a decreased rate of disease progression. More studies are being conducted to provide conclusive evidence that selenium can in fact aid in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Vitamin E
Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are both male androgen hormones that fuel the growth of prostate cancer cells. Therefore, many treatments for prostate cancer center on blocking the production of these hormones to stop cancer growth. Vitamin E, the name for a group of eight different compounds, can suppress the action of androgen receptors, thereby blocking androgen from binding to and promoting the growth of prostate cancer cells, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, according to the Prostate Cancer Fund, has been shown to decrease the volume of prostate cancer tumors in studies conducted in cell cultures. Taking vitamin D supplements while on chemotherapy or radiation to treat prostate cancers has been shown to increase the effectiveness of the treatments.
Zinc
Zinc, a mineral, can inhibit androgens from binding to the androgen receptors and therefore inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. Prolactin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, increases the uptake of testosterone in the prostate, which can stimulate growth of cancer cells. Zinc can inhibit prolactin secretion, thereby helping to inhibit cancer cell growth.
