Prostate Procrastination: 6 Foods to Eat Today

It’s easy to put off getting your prostate checked by your doctor. It’s also easy to add some healthy prostate-friendly foods to your diet. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. It afflicts 1 in 7 men in the United States. It’s believed that the high-fat, high-sugar Western diet may contribute to increased rates of prostate cancer. So while you’ll need to see a doctor eventually, you can start boosting your prostate health by trying these six foods.

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Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes. It may help prevent prostate cancer as well as reduce tumor growth among men with prostate cancer. In a review of 11 studies published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, researchers found that men who ate more tomatoes and tomato-based products, both raw and cooked, were less likely to develop prostate cancer.

But because lycopene is tightly bound to cell walls, our bodies have a difficult time extracting it from raw tomatoes. Cooked or pureed tomato products may be better options. Look to products like these:

• tomato paste
• spaghetti sauce
• sun-dried tomatoes
• tomato juice
• ketchup

Broccoli is a vegetable that contains many complex compounds that may help protect some people from cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, some studies suggest there’s a link between the amount of cruciferous vegetables you eat and your prostate cancer risk. The reasons why are still unclear. But researchers propose that one of the phytochemicals found in these vegetables, called sulforaphane, selectively targets and kills cancer cells while leaving normal prostate cells healthy and unaffected. 

Green tea is a large component of the Asian diet. It’s been consumed for thousands of years. It’s not clear if green tea is the reason why prostate cancer rates in Asia are so much lower than in the United States. However, components of green tea are being studied for their effects on health. These include:

• catechin
• xanthine derivatives
• epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)
• epicatechin 

There’s now some evidence to support that these compounds found in green tea may prevent the development of prostate cancer. In a review published by Chinese Medicine, researchers found a decreased risk of prostate cancer among men who consumed more than 5 cups of green tea per day.

Legumes such as beans, peanuts, and lentils all contain biologically active plant compounds known as phytoestrogens. Isoflavones are one such phytoestrogen. They may contain cancer-fighting properties. This could suppress tumor growth in prostate cancer cells.

While there’s still a need for more conclusive research, the preliminary research reported by the National Cancer Institute shows a link between the consumption of soy and reduced levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA is a protein produced by your prostate; the PSA test measures the level of PSA in your blood and is used as a screening test for prostate cancer. This research also seemed to indicate soy was more effective when it was eaten in combination with other cancer-fighting foods.

Much like red wine or green tea, pomegranate is a rich source of antioxidants. It’s been touted as a “miracle fruit” in preventing chronic diseases related to oxidative stress. Scientists think the antioxidant found in pomegranate works in a “seek and destroy” method, exclusively targeting the prostate cancer cells and not the healthy cells. Studies have found that pomegranate juice and extract, hinder the production of different prostate cancer cells.

Polyunsaturated fats, like omega-3s and omega-6s, are essential fatty acids found exclusively in the diet. They’re not synthesized by the body. The traditional Western diet has a lot of omega-6 fatty acids but not many omega-3s. Having a healthier balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may help prevent the development and progression of prostate cancer.

In a review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found a link between eating fish and a reduced mortality rate. Try eating fatty fish found in cold waters to increase your omega-3 intake. These include:

• salmon
• herring
• mackerel
• sardines
• trout

Check with your doctor when making dietary changes, especially if you’re receiving treatment for prostate cancer. Some foods may interact with certain drugs and therapies.