Change Your Diet To Cut Risk of Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer and Diet

(NC) - Prostate cancer will affect one in eight Canadian men and estimates suggest 20,000 men will develop the disease this year in Canada alone. In Canada, prostate cancer is the most common cancer threat to men. The Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control estimates that 4,200 men with prostate cancer will die from the disease each year.

While it's difficult to combat the effects of age, race and family history, many researchers believe that changes in modifiable risk factors, such as diet, can have a profound impact on whether men develop prostate cancer.

According to Samara Felesky-Hunt, registered dietitian, a study of more than 50,000 men showed a diet high in saturated fat may double the risk of cancer, especially prostate, colon and breast cancer.

Research also suggests that certain foods, particularly fruit and vegetables that contain powerful phytonutrients, may help to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Felesky-Hunt recommends eating a diet low in saturated fat and high in whole grains, fruit, and vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts.

The omega-3 fats found in fish, flaxseed or walnuts might also protect the prostate. The recent Health Professionals Follow-up Study reported those eating fish more than three times a week had a 44 per cent lower risk of prostrate cancer over 12 years compared with those who reported eating fish less than twice a month.

Canadian men may want to consider beginning a diet higher in selenium (organ meats, seafood, poultry, meat and brazil nuts), and vitamin E (wheat germ, nuts, soybeans, organ meats and vegetable oils). These micronutrients have been shown in several studies to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

It may be helpful to take a daily multivitamin such as Centrum, which is formulated to include safe, conservative amounts of the important micronutrients.

- News Canada