Five Powerful Foods for Prostate Cancer Prevention

I found this article about eating for a healthy prostate from The Cancer Project, a collaborative effort of physicians, researchers, and nutritionists who have joined together to educate the public about the benefits of a healthy diet for cancer prevention and survival. Based in Washington, D.C., The Cancer Project is a program of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.  The article was written in 2006, but it supports the current view that an anti-inflammatory diet, as I discuss in The Prostate Storm,  can reduce the risk of prostate disease, including prostate cancer.  ***

In the battle against prostate cancer, men need all the ammunition they can get—and five healthy foods can help them reduce their risk. An estimated 234,460 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, many of which may be preventable with diet alone. A healthy vegetarian diet may reduce men’s risk of this disease.

“Broccoli, beans, and other low-fat vegetables, fruits, and legumes are great for prostate cancer prevention, while dairy products appear to increase risk,” says Cancer Project nutritionist Jennifer Reilly, R.D. “Scientific studies are also finding that a meatless diet, combined with other lifestyle changes, can help keep early-stage prostate cancer from worsening.”

Here are five foods that can help prevent prostate cancer:

1. Beans. Black, pinto, small red, and kidney beans are high in fiber, which helps the body rid itself of excess testosterone, and are among the 20 most antioxidant-rich foods. Beans are also rich in inositol pentakisphosphate, a known cancer-fighter. Add beans to soups, salads, or pasta sauce.

2. Tomatoes. Tomatoes and other lycopene-rich foods, such as watermelon and pink grapefruit, are associated with a reduced risk of prostate and other cancers. Studies from the Harvard School of Public Health have shown that men who frequently consume lycopene-rich foods cut their prostate cancer risk by one-third.

3. Sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes, carrots, and cantaloupe are rich in beta-carotene, which gives them their orange color and helps the immune system keep cancer at bay. Try mashed sweet potatoes or baked sweet potato wedges for a satisfying side dish.

4. Broccoli. Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetable, including kale and cauliflower, are rich in sulphoraphane, a cancer-fighting phytochemical that helps rid the body of excess testosterone and reduces the risk of prostate and other cancers. Serve steamed broccoli with roasted garlic and lemon juice for a powerful cancer-fighting dish.

5. Soy milk. Soy, nut, and rice milks are a healthy alternative to cow’s milk, which is known to increase the risk of prostate cancer. According to two major Harvard studies, men who avoided dairy products cut their prostate cancer risk by as much as 25 percent to 40 percent. Soy foods are associated with a lower risk of cancer. Try adding soy or rice milk to your morning cereal or oatmeal.