Prostate cancer accounts for 40% of all cancers in men and poses a significant risk to men especially in western countries. If you’re concerned about your risk of prostate cancer, here’s a list of 10 things you do to improve you prostate health.
- Reduce your weekly alcohol and fizzy drink intake. These drinks leach out zinc, a mineral essential for good prostate health.
- Increase your exposure to sunlight, this increases Vitamin D which in turn increases Vitamin A absorption, associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer.
- Increase consumption of oily fish, firstly because it is rich in Vitamin D and also omega 3 fatty acid which can help encourage apoptosis of cancer cells.
- Reduce saturated animal fats and red meat consumption, the oils of which cancerous cells convert into prostaglandins at a higher rate, increasing risk.
- Increase the amount of vegetable fibre in the diet including broccoli, legumes and whole grains
- Eat more which contain lycopene which benefits the prostate. Lycopene found in tomatos and saw palmetto.
- Consume black or green tea every day.
- Increase plant fats in the form of Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds or olive oil, sunflower oil, almond oil. The fatty acids in them can encourage apoptosis of cancer cells.
- Eat whole organic soy such as: tofu, tempeh or soy milk. Soy contains genistein which inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Soy was found to provide most protection from prostate cancer in 42 countries.
- Avoid sugar, fried food, and large amounts of dairy and high doses of calcium.
Lahans, T (2007) Integrating Conventional and Chinese Medicine in Cancer Care: A Clincal Guide. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.