Adopt cereal, fish and leafy greens: How diet can be crucial to keep Prostate Cancer at bay

Doctors suggest that some dietary modifications can drastically cut the risk of the disease

The sixth leading cause of cancer deaths among males worldwide, Prostate Cancer is also the second most frequently diagnosed cancer type after lung cancer. It is clearly established that the risk of the incidence of this disease increases with age, with men post 50 most at risk, but research has also indicated that a diet rich in red meat and high-fat dairy products predisposes men to the risk of prostate cancer.

Dr  P K mishra of Medica Super specially Hospital says, “While age is a factor that nobody can control, certain dietary modifications throughout your life can certainly help you cut the risk of getting afflicted with the disease. Choosing a healthy diet is imperative in reducing the risk of this global killer.  A low-fat diet that restricts red meat, oils and dairy products such as milk and cheese can be of great help.”

Men with higher consumption of fatty products have been found to be more prone to getting prostate cancer. However, consumption of fats from plants is generally preferable to that from animals. For instance, cook with olive oil rather than butter or sprinkle nuts and seeds rather than cheese. An increased amount of fruits and vegetables that are full of vitamins and minerals can add several benefits to your diets. So will a diet that includes tofu – a product made from soy beans – which again has been linked to reduced prostate cancer risks.

Studies of men who drink Green tea or take green tea extract as a supplement have also found a reduced risk of prostate cancer. If you like to drink tea, consider choosing green tea.

The prostate is an exocrine gland (secretions end up outside the body) of the male reproductive system, and exists directly under the bladder. Roughly the size of a walnut, it is through the prostate that the urethra – the tube carrying urine and semen out of the body – goes through. Besides producing a fluid that forms part of the semen and protects the sperm, the prostate gland also plays a role in urine control.

There are several myths associated with the risk of prostate cancer, some may believe that too much sex, a vasectomy, masturbation, or enlarged prostate (BPH) may put you at risk of the disease. However, these are all myths that are best discarded.

To keep Prostate cancer at bay, make sure you adopt the following habits in your daily diet:

1)   Eat a big bowl of cereal (flax): There’s no arguing that Frosted Flakes taste great, but it’s not exactly the healthiest breakfast cereal. So, if you’re looking to find a fun way to prevent prostate cancer, opt for a cereal that’s high in flax and try substituting cow’s milk with soy. Both flax and soy contain active ingredients that fight prostate cancer.

2)   Fish: The omega-3 fatty acids in fish — especially oily varieties such as salmon and mackerel — dampen inflammation, which appears to promote prostate tumors.

3)   Leafy greens: Eating several servings of spinach and other leafy greens per week may cut the risk of prostate cancer, according to recent research by genetic epidemiologist John Witte and colleagues at the University of California in San Francisco.

Restrict your intake of:

1) Carbohydrates: Sugary candy and soda, as well as starchy foods such as white bread and white rice are all high-glycemic carbs, which spark inflammation. One recent study found that men who ate the most sweet, starchy food were 64 per cent more likely to develop advanced prostate cancer.