If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s only natural to wonder what you can do to increase your chances of beating the disease. One important factor that’s within your control is what you eat. Research shows that consuming certain foods can help you reduce your risk factors for aggressive prostate tumors. Here, we’ll discuss some dietary changes you can make to help fight prostate cancer and improve other aspects of your health.
Heart-healthy oils
Whether you have early- or advanced-stage prostate cancer, consuming fats from avocados, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and other heart-healthy oils may help slow your cancer’s progression and help you live longer. According to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, eating heart-healthy foods can help you reduce your risk of developing lethal tumors. Men in the study who ate a serving of nuts each day reduced their risk of dying from prostate cancer by 18%, while those who consumed an additional serving of oil-based dressing every day were 29% less likely to die from their prostate cancer.
It’s important to note that moderation is key – maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding obesity are crucial for your prostate and heart health.
Go nuts for walnuts
Walnuts are rich in phytochemicals with antioxidant properties and have been found to help prevent prostate tumors from forming, alongside reducing tumor size and slowing tumor growth. One study involving mice with prostate cancer discovered that those who consumed the equivalent of 3-ounces of walnuts per day experienced a 50% reduction in tumor size, and their tumor growth reduced by 30%. Further research in humans is needed, but these findings suggest that walnuts could have significant power in fighting prostate cancer.
Cruciferous vegetables
Consuming cruciferous vegetables several times per week can benefit your health in several ways. These vegetables not only help fight prostate cancer, but also combat inflammation and may prevent bladder, colorectal, and other types of cancers.
Cruciferous vegetables include arugula, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, horseradish, kale, radishes, rutabaga, turnips, watercress, and wasabi. When you consume these vegetables, your body breaks them down into components like indole-3-carbinol (I3C) – a precursor to the phytonutrient diiindolymethane (DIM). Both I3C and DIM are known to have various health benefits for men, such as supporting normal prostate function and urinary health, promoting natural hormone levels, fighting inflammation, and protecting cells from DNA damage while also inhibiting the development of cancer.
Other cancer-fighting foods
Heart-healthy oils, nuts, and cruciferous vegetables are just some of the dietary choices that promote prostate health and help your body fight prostate cancer. It’s also important to be aware of what not to eat: an anti-inflammatory diet that supports prostate health should avoid red meat, sugar, saturated fat, and processed foods.
Consider incorporating other natural cancer-fighting foods such as green tea, pomegranate, beans, garlic, berries, cayenne pepper, vitamin D, lycopene (found in tomatoes), Asian mushrooms, and turmeric into your daily diet. Additionally, you might consider taking supplements to support your immunity and prostate health. By following these dietary guidelines, you’ll be in the best possible position to battle prostate cancer and improve your overall health and longevity.
Remember, making dietary changes following a prostate cancer diagnosis and maintaining a healthy lifestyle after treatment are vital for lowering your risk factors and promoting wellness. Even if you’ve completed prostate cancer treatment, you should be aware that 30% of prostate cancers return, so continuing to adopt a healthy diet can have a major impact on your prostate and general health.
