Alcohol can make you put on weight. It also causes other health problems such as heart disease and other cancers. We do not know what effect alcohol has on men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

You should aim to stay within the recommended limits for your general health. The government advises that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day.

If you have urinary problems after treatment for prostate cancer, try to cut down on alcohol as it can irritate the bladder. Your specialist team can tell you whether alcohol will affect your prostate cancer treatment.

Food supplements
You should be able to get all the nutrients you need by eating a balanced diet rather than taking supplements. Supplements may interfere with some treatments for prostate cancer, so let your specialist know if you are taking, or plan to take, any supplements.

Your doctor may recommend specific supplements in particular cases. For example they may advise you to take calcium supplements if you are on hormone therapy to help keep your bones strong.

Herbal remedies
Some men like to take herbal or complementary medicines to help them manage their prostate cancer or improve the side effects of treatment. However, there is very little evidence that herbal remedies are effective for prostate cancer.

Not all herbal remedies in the UK are licensed, and the quality varies greatly. Be particularly careful about buying herbal remedies over the internet. Many companies make claims that are not based on proper research, and there may be no real evidence that they work.

There is a risk that herbal remedies could interfere with your prostate cancer treatment. It is very important that you tell your doctor if you are taking any kind of herbal remedy or complementary therapy. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provides advice about how to use herbal remedies safely.

Being overweight (obese) may be linked to an increased risk of aggressive or advanced prostate cancer. However, we do not yet fully understand how weight affects prostate cancer growth.

Being a healthy weight may improve the likelihood of surgery or radiotherapy being successful. Keeping to a healthy weight can also reduce your risk of other health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.

Read our online fact sheet for information on how to work out whether you are a healthy weight, and how to lose weight.

Diet and exercise may help to reduce the side effects of some prostate cancer treatments:

• Weight gain
• Bone thinning
• Strength and muscle loss
• Hot flushes
• Tiredness
• Anxiety and depression
• Bowel problems
• Urinary problems
• Erection problems

You can read more about these in our online fact sheet.

Start by making small changes that you feel comfortable with, for example eating more fruit and vegetables. Set yourself realistic goals and make changes gradually. Trying to make too many changes at once may mean that you are less likely to stick to them.

Try to cut down on unhealthy foods, for example those high in sugar or saturated fat, although there is nothing wrong with the occasional treat. Do not totally exclude whole groups of food from your diet as they all play a part in making sure you have a balanced diet.

Ask your doctor to refer you to a dietitian if you are making big changes to your diet or if you have any other medical conditions that could be affected by your diet, such as diabetes.

There is more information about how to improve your diet in our online fact sheet.

Some of the nutrients found in different foods may help to slow down the growth of prostate cancer. Other foods may increase the risk of the cancer growing. The evidence at the moment is limited and we need more research into this, but there is some scientific evidence that the following foods may affect prostate cancer.

• Tomatoes. They contain a chemical called lycopene, which may slow down the growth of prostate cancer.
• Pomegranate juice. There is some evidence that pomegranate juice may benefit men with prostate cancer.
• Cruciferous vegetables (the cabbage family). Some studies suggest that cruciferous vegetables may slow down the growth of prostate cancer or reduce the risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
• Soy. Some studies have suggested that soy may slow down the growth of prostate cancer.
• Green tea. There is some evidence that green tea may protect against prostate cancer growing and advanced cancer.

The following foods may increase the risk of prostate cancer growing.

• Dairy products and calcium. Eating large amounts of dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer growing and of advanced cancer.
• Red meat. Some studies have found that eating too much red meat such as beef, pork or lamb may increase the risk of advanced prostate cancer.
• Processed meat, such as ham, bacon, sausages and burgers. Processed meat may increase the risk of prostate cancer growing.
• Well cooked meat. Some research suggests that meat cooked at very high temperatures or very well done can increase your risk of advanced prostate cancer.

There is more information about all these foods in our online fact sheet.

The amount of exercise you are able to do will depend on the stage of your cancer and what treatment you are having, as well as your fitness levels. Even a small amount of exercise will be beneficial.

Find an activity that you enjoy. Start gently, and gradually increase the amount that you do as you become fitter. Exercise at your level of fitness, take things at your own pace and do not over do it. Rest when you feel you need to.

Walking, swimming, cycling and gardening are all good exercise. There are even exercises that you can do from your chair or bed, such as lifting and stretching your arms and legs, which can help improve mobility and muscle strength.

Try to include 30 minutes of moderate exercise three to five days a week. Your heart should beat faster but you should still be able to talk - about the level of a brisk walk.

Speak to your specialist before you start any kind of exercise plan. They may be able to refer you to a physiotherapist who will be able to give you advice and draw up an exercise programme for your individual needs.

There is more information about exercise in our online fact sheet.

See below for a list of references used on this page. For a full list of references please see our online fact sheet.

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