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Nothing can guarantee prostate cancer
prevention through diet, treatment, behavior, or medicine.
The best weapons you can arm yourself with are awareness
of prostate
cancer and prostate health. Some lifestyles, eating
habits, and dietary supplements have been linked to
lower levels of prostate cancer, as well as other types
of cancers.
Exercise
There is no evidence that links exercise to a lower
risk of prostate cancer; however, there is evidence
that links exercise to better prostate health. Prostate
cancer, however, is linked to obesity,
possibly because cancerous prostate cells are fueled
particularly well by fat.
Exercise improves overall physical and mental well-being,
so many doctors endorse getting at least 30 minutes
of exercise per week. Other doctors advise you to do
what feels good for your body, so if you need to exercise
more, then exercise more. Other studies indicate that
regular exercise increases the flow of oxygen to the
soft tissues of the body and helps to stabilize glucose
levels in the bloodstream. High glucose levels may fuel
prostate cancer cells, much in the same way that fat
seems to.
Healthy Prostate Diet
High-fat and low-fiber diets in addition to obesity
seem to contribute to a higher risk of prostate cancer
as well as higher rates of recurrent
prostate cancer. Some researchers theorize
that higher levels of body fat can stimulate the production
of androgens, male hormones which stimulate the prostate
cell production. Other researchers believe that cancerous
prostate cells will thrive when fed with fat, especially
the kind of fat found in red meat and dairy products:
saturated
fats. Omega-3
fatty acid is a poly-unsaturated fat
which is known as the “heart-healthy” fats.
Omega-3 fatty acids decrease unhealthy fatty compounds
found in the body. Larger quantities of the omega-3
fatty acids are found in soy,
flaxseed, and fish oils. Incidentally, countries whose
diets base their protein on fish (rather than red meat)
have much lower rates of prostate cancer.
Soy products have also been found
to decrease the process angiogenesis,
which is how cancerous cells create blood vessels that
allow them to move to other parts of the body. Tofu
is no longer the only food available that contains soy,
though the high-sodium soy sauce is not one of them.
Soy milk in original chocolate or vanilla, soy creamers,
soy yogurts, soy ice creams, and tofu burgers and sausages
that mimic the taste of meat are more commonly stocked
in grocery stores today. Silken tofu or soy powder can
be added to baked goods or drinks.
Green
tea, red grapes, grape juice, and red
wine appear to contain anti-oxidants
that can neutralize cancer-causing agents within the
body. Green tea, however, contains vitamin K, which
can act as blood thinner in large amounts. Lycopene,
found in tomatoes, and beta-carotene
may be beneficial in protecting the body from prostate
cancer. Some doctors, however, caution against relying
solely on tomatoes or carrots. Eating a large variety
of fresh fruits and vegetables benefits the body and
may boost the body’s cancer fighting abilities.
Prostate Health Supplements
You may have heard in the news about vitamin
E as well as selenium
being linked to a drastically decreased risk of prostate
cancer. You should not, however, start any large does
of vitamins or minerals without first consulting your
doctors. What many news reports may have omitted was
that the studies of vitamin E and selenium seem to benefit
those who were originally deficient in either, or who
were prior smokers. Some doctors suggest that those
who eat a well-balanced diet and take an inexpensive
multi-vitamin every day should already have sufficient
levels of vitamin E and selenium in their bodies. It
is also important to note that it is possible to overdose
on supplements to the point where you can poison yourself.
Some vitamins, such as vitamin C, are water-soluble,
so excess vitamins are simply flushed out of the body.
Other vitamins, such as vitamin E, can build up in the
soft tissues of the body and thereby cause toxicity.
Too much of a good thing can become a bad, so you should
always talk to your doctor before starting supplements
in addition to exercising moderation in your consumption
of supplements.
Studies have also linked a daily
regimen of aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory
drugs to lowered risks of prostate
cancer. Before beginning a daily regimen of an anti-inflammatory,
however, you should consult with your doctor because
aspirin is sometimes prescribed as a blood thinner.
The side-effects of long-term exposure to aspirin could
outweigh its benefits. Also frequent use of aspirin
has been associated with ulcers and stomach bleeding.
Some doctors point out that aspirin is derived from
willow bark, which contains salicylic
acid and is also found in fruits and
vegetables .
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