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September 13, 2013

Fit Facts: Foods to Skip or Stock up on for Prostate Cancer Prevention

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men. Although prostate cancer cannot totally be prevented through diet, men can choose foods that can benefit their overall health as well as their prostate. Some foods raise your risk for, while others may help to save the day by preventing prostate cancer. Here’s what to skip — and what to stock up on.

Consume: Fruits and vegetables contain loads of vitamins, fiber, disease-fighting antioxidants and other plant-based chemicals that may protect against cancer.

Avoid: Deep-fried foods. Men who chow on French fries, fried chicken and doughnuts more than once a week may increase their risk for prostate cancer up to 35 percent. Doctors suspect high-temperature cooking — and chemical changes to the oil in the fryer — results in new cancer-causing compounds. 

Consume: Tomatoes. Some studies suggest foods rich in the antioxidant lycopene, plentiful in tomato products, decreases prostate cancer risk. While research is ongoing, these foods are still part of an overall cancer-fighting diet.

Avoid: Red meat. Cardiologists and other doctors already view artery-clogging red meat as bad news, but a new study finds that men have a higher risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer if they eat a lot of ground beef and other red meat — especially if the meat is grilled or well done.

Consume: Fatty fish — such as salmon, sardines, tuna and trout — contain a fatty acid called omega-3 that has been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. If you don't currently eat fish, try adding it to your diet.

Sources: The Mayo Clinic, CNN.com, Journal of Oncology, 2013

 

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