The best foods for prostate health
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We are always looking for the best foods for our health, and although there are foods that are generally beneficial to our bodies – certain foods are just better for certain things. Let’s take a look at the best foods for men and a healthy prostate:
1. Tomatoes: Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, may be beneficial in the prevention of prostate cancer and reducing tumor growth among men with prostate cancer. Studies have found that men who ate a lot of raw tomato and cooked tomato products were less likely to develop prostate cancer compared with men who rarely ate such foods.
2. Broccoli: Several studies have demonstrated a lower chance of developing prostate cancer among men who eat large amounts of broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables. Could be due to one of the phytochemicals found in these vegetables, called sulforaphane, selectively targets and kills cancer cells while leaving normal prostate cells healthy and unaffected.
3. Green Tea: Components of green tea such as catechin, EGCG and epicatechin are all being studied for their effects on health. There is some evidence to support that these polyphenolic compounds may prevent the development of prostate cancer.
4. Legumes and Soybeans: Legumes such as beans, peanuts and lentils all contain biologically active plant compounds known as phytoestrogens. Isoflavones, a phytoestrogen, may contain cancer-fighting properties, which suppress tumor growth in prostate cancer cells.
5. Pomegranate Juice: Much like red wine or green tea, pomegranate is a rich source of antioxidants. In a small study investigators found that drinking 8oz of pomegranate juice delayed the rise in PSA levels and increased the doubling time from 15 months to 54 months. Compounds in pomegranate fruit may exclusively target the prostate cancer cells and destroy them.
6. Fish: Polyunsaturated fats, like omega-3s and omega-6s, are essential fatty acids found exclusively in the diet and not synthesized by the body. Having a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may help prevent the development and progression of prostate cancer. Unfortunately, the traditional Western diet has lot of omega-6 fatty acids, but minimal omega-3s. In a Swedish study which followed men for over 30 years, researchers reported that those men who ate no fish were two to three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than men who consumed large amounts of fish in their diet. To increase your omega-3 intake, try eating fatty fish found in cold waters such as salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines or trout.