Prostate Cancer Prevention Diet Tips

Knowledge is your best weapon for good prostate health and avoiding prostate  cancer. Some lifestyles, eating habits, and dietary supplements are thought to  lead to lower levels of prostate cancer, as well as other cancers. Nobody can  guarantee prostate cancer prevention through behavior, diet, treatment, or  medicine, but there things you can do to improve your odds.

There is strong evidence that links exercise to better prostate health. 

Exercise improves overall physical and mental health, so most medical  professionals recommend at least a half an hour of exercise per week. Some  studies indicate that regular exercise increases oxygen flow to the soft tissues  of the body and helps to control glucose levels in the bloodstream. High levels  of glucose may help fuel prostate cancer cells.

A healthy prostate diet is worth considering. High-fat and low-fiber diets  and obesity seem to contribute to a higher risk of prostate cancer, Researchers  theorize that high levels of body fat can stimulate the production of male  hormones which encourage prostate cell production.

Some researchers believe that  cancerous prostate cells can feed on fat, especially fats found in red meat and  dairy products.

Omega 3 fatty acid, found in fish, soy, and flaxseed is known as  the “heart-healthy” fats.

Omega-3 fatty acids help decease fats found in the  body. Countries whose diets are based on fish proteins rather than red meat have  much lower rates of prostate cancer.

Soy products can decease how cancerous  cells move to other parts of the body. Soy products include tofu, soymilk, soy  creamers, soy yogurts, soy ice creams, and tofu burgers and sausages often  stocked in grocery stores today. Silken tofu or soy powder can be added to baked  goods or drinks to receive the benefits of soy.

Red grapes, grape juice, green  teas, and even non-alcoholic red wine contain anti-oxidants that can neutralize cancer-causing  agents within the body. Lycopene found in tomatoes, and beta-carotene may be  beneficial in helping to protect the body from the risk of prostate cancer. 

Eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables may help boost the body’s cancer  fighting abilities and over-all health.

Prostate Health Supplements such as vitamin E and selenium have been linked  to a drastically decreased risk of prostate cancer.

Studies of vitamin E and  selenium seem to benefit those who were deficient in either, or who were  ex-smokers. Studies have also linked a daily regimen of aspirin or ibuprofen to  lower risks of prostate cancer. As always, talk to your doctor before starting  any prolonged use of supplements or aspirin.

For more information visit: This Prostate Cancer Prevention Website

Could a Plant Based Diet  Help Prevent Prostate Cancer?

Dietary changes should be on the prescription pads of doctors treating men with prostate cancer. New research shows that eating more whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and legumes while eating less meat, dairy, and refined carbohydrates could slow the progression of the deadly disease.

“Studies have associated the Western diet not only with prostate cancer incidence but also with a greater risk of disease progression after treatment,” said Gordon A. Saxe, MD, PhD, lead author of the study and assistant professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego. “Conversely, many elements of plant-based diets have been associated with reduced risk of progression.”

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a marker for prostate cancer recurrence and often the earliest sign of spread of the disease beyond the prostate gland, even in people with no symptoms. Saxe and colleagues conducted a six-month preliminary study to investigate whether a plant-based diet, reinforced with stress-management training, could prevent or lessen a rise in PSA among ten men with recurrent prostate cancer.

The men and their spouses or other support person participated in intensive group and individual diet and stress-reduction trainings. The men were taught to shift their diet to more whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and legumes and to eat less meat, dairy, and refined carbohydrates (such as white rice, white flour, and sugar). The people took cooking classes, participated in group discussions and meals, and were counseled regarding calorie intake (1,600 calories per day) and portion sizes.

Compared with the rate of PSA rise in the prestudy period, there was a significant reduction on the rate of rise throughout the intervention period. Nine of the ten men had a slower progression of PSA levels. Four of the ten men had a lower PSA level than when they started the diet. The time it took the men’s PSA levels to double increased nearly tenfold over six months, suggesting a strong protective effect.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men in the Western world after skin cancer. About 35% of men who are treated for the disease will experience a recurrence within ten years.

These men are at higher risk for life-threatening metastases. Prevention of such recurrences is, therefore, an essential element of therapy. Unfortunately, the conventional treatments to prevent recurrence, such as hormone therapy, cause many undesirable side effects, such as hot flashes, loss of libido, and loss of bone mass.

“These findings have significant therapeutic potential for recurrent prostate cancer,” concluded Dr. Saxe. “A natural dietary- and lifestyle-based approach may serve as an adjunct or alternative to hormonal therapy.”

For more information visit: This Prostate Health Website

Obesity is Bad For Prostate Health

Over the past 40 years, the rate of obesity has been exploding in the United  States. A massive 65% of adults in the US were classified as overweight or  obese, with a body mass index over the accepted normal of 25.

More disturbing is  the 31% of children who are classified as overweight or obese. Since 40% of  Americans do not exercise regularly, there seems to be little hope of this  changing in the near future.

This dangerous combination of increased food  consumption and decreased physical activity has taken a tragic toll on Americans  and has resulted in increased rates of a multitude of diseases, particularly  diabetes.

It is literally a major health crisis looming over America, adding to  an already stained healthcare system. Obesity is also bloating healthcare cost,  making healthcare in the US among the most expensive in the world.

Although research has yet to identify the link between obesity and the  increased chance of developing prostate cancer remains unclear; there is little  question that obesity does have negative effect on disease outcomes.

Studies  have shown that prostate-specific antigen test results in obese men can be  considerable lower despite the presence of disease, leading to delayed diagnosis  and treatment; recovery from surgery tends to be longer for the obese, and the  risk of death from prostate cancer can be much higher.

Whatever nutritional approaches the individual chooses for prostate health,  weight management is a must for an overall strategy. Increasing the intake of  fresh vegetables can be beneficial, as long as they’re not swimming in high-fat  dressings, oils, or sauces. Nuts can be an excellent source of some key  nutrients, but they can also be very high in calories and fat. Knowing what to  eat is a start, the real step in incorporating good nutrition into your  lifestyle.

In addition, exercise is essential for effective weight management, it’s  important to exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes a day and at least 3 days  each week.

Exercise not only helps burn off extra calories, but help keep the  individual flexible and help maintain muscle strength and endurance. Walking,  jogging, leisure activities, amateur sports, can be effective types of exercise.  The key is to stay active and stay off the couch.

Many American’s face an uphill  challenge to regain control of their health and weight. Taking care of the  prostate requires taking care of yourself.

For more information on getting a healthy prostate visit: This Prostate Health Website

Green Tea and Prostate Cancer

New research suggests that green tea may help prevent the spread of prostate  cancer. Specifically phytochemicals in green tea, called polyphenols attack  growth factors and proteins, interrupting growth processes of tumors, thus  preventing them from spreading to other organs.

Since earlier studies suggests  that the same natural plant substances might also help prevent the start of  prostate cancer, researchers indicate that more studies are needed on green  tea’s affect on fighting this common cancer.

The best way to reduce your risk of  prostate cancer still lies in eating a mostly vegetarian diet.

Studies on diet and cancer also show that green tea when tested with mice  with an aggressive form of cancer can decrease the spread or metastasis of  prostate cancer to liver, bone, and other parts of the body.

Additional study of  green tea may help develop a treatment to prevent the dormant, non threatening  type of prostate cancer many men have in their 70’s & 80’s from becoming  aggressive and fatal.

Around six cups of green tea per day would contain the  equivalent amount of polyphenols for individuals to help block the spread of  cancer.

Other data shows that the phytochemicals in green tea could inhibit the  early phases of prostate cancer development.

The phytochemicals seem to increase the number of enzymes that help convert  carcinogens to dormant, harmless forms.

Many questions remain about the amount  and frequency of green tea necessary to affect the formation of prostate cancer.  Black tea has shown similar benefits to green tea, although they appear to have  lower levels of the beneficial substances than green tea.

Whatever the benefits  of green tea, it would be a mistake to rely on tea alone for prevention. Studies  suggest a variety of nutritional influences on prostate cancer risk. The use of  Vitamin E may offer some protection. The antioxidant mineral selenium also seems  protective.

Most Americans get adequate amounts of selenium, but these studies  used nutrition supplements, so the study participants achieved higher intake  levels. It waits to be seen whether men can protect themselves by taking  supplements, including multivitamins, with selenium. If total selenium intake  exceeds 400 mcg per day, nerve damage and other side effects can occur in the  individual.

Other good foods for natural nutrition are blueberries, broccoli, cabbage,  Brussels sprouts, flaxseed, soybeans, and tomatoes. Cooked tomatoes are actually  a far better source than raw tomatoes because the cooking process releases the  lycopene from cells.

For more information see this Prostate Health Website

Certain Omega-3s  Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk

BETHESDA, Md.–Men with high intakes of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may have a reduced risk of prostate cancer, according to researchers from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (Am J Clin Nutr, 80, 1:204-16, 2004). Increased dietary intake of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), however, may increase the risk of advanced prostate cancer.

Researchers evaluated the association between dietary intake of ALA, EPA, DHA, linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) and prostate cancer risk in a cohort of 47,866 men between 40 and 75 years of age who were free from prostate cancer at the start of the study. After 14 years of follow-up, 2,965 subjects developed prostate cancer–448 of which developed advanced prostate cancer.

The researchers found men with the highest intake of EPA and DHA combined had an 11-percent reduced risk of developing prostate cancer and a 26-percent reduced risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. Researchers also found while dietary intake of ALA was unrelated to the total risk of prostate cancer, its consumption significantly increased the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. Specifically, non-animal ALA doubled the risk and ALA from meat and dairy sources increased the risk by approximately 50 percent.

For more information visit: This Prostate Health Website