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Diet and the prostate
Did you know that people in the Far East are less likely to develop some cancers than Westerners? We can’t be entirely sure why this is, but research shows that lifestyle factors, such as diet, may be key. And with the levels of cancer beginning to rise in the East coinciding with the increase in consumption of ‘western’ food, this only supports our thinking.
In the UK, we have a high level of heart disease, which has been linked to the fatty diet we consume. We’ve also got a high level of prostate cancer. It’s thought that fatty foods may also create a higher risk of prostate cancer.
So what does all this mean? In essence, it’s a good idea to follow a few simple guidelines to make sure you’re the healthiest you can be. Here are a few suggestions along with some findings from recent research.
How to stay healthy
- Cut down on saturated fat and try baking, poaching or grilling instead of frying your food.
- Include more fish and poultry in your diet and limit your red meat intake to 2-3 times a week. Recent findings show a strong link between the reduction of animal fat intake, especially dairy and red meat, and a decreased risk of prostate cancer.
- Eat more fruit and vegetables – recent research indicates that the consumption of vegetables and fruit is linked with reducing the risk of cancer.
- Get avocados into your diet – studies carried out by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) indicates that lutein, a substance recently discovered in green vegetables and avocados can help protect against prostate cancer.
- Enjoy more tomatoes! According to the UCLA, lycopene – a substance found in cooked tomatoes – is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
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