In my practice, I inform patients that diet can play a role in helping the body fight prostate cancer. The research is hopeful concerning Japanese and Mediterranean diets. Red meat is mostly absent in these diets. Both are also low in calories and fat.
In the Japanese diet: Green tea, vegetables (not starches), fish and soy.
The Mediterranean diet: fresh fruits and vegetables (watch out for too much fruit with its calories) garlic, red wine, olive oil, and fish.
Ten take home messages:
- Eliminate as much red meat and fatty dairy products as possible.
- Abdominal circumference has been linked to prostate cancer risk.
- Avoid margarines and fried foods.
- Fresh fish is good. Omega-3 fatty acids are high in cold water species (salmon, trout, mackerel)
- Our ancestors ate a lot of fresh vegetables- the body is used to foods like this and beneficial elements are discovered regularly in vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are good.
- Drink green tea.
- Red wine is good
- Tomatoes products are very high in lycopene, which may help fight cancer.
- Olive oil and avocado oil are good. No to canola, corn and soybean oil, which are high in polyunsaturated fats.
- Selenium is potentially helpful.
