According to medical experts, prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate develop changes in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The changes tell the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue living, when other cells would die.
Over time, researches have shown that the underlying factor linking diet and prostate cancer is probably hormonal. Fats stimulate increased production of testosterone and other hormones, and testosterone acts to speed up the growth of prostate cancer. High testosterone levels may stimulate dormant prostate cancer cells into activity. That is according to the information available at the website: www.mayoclinic.com.
What are the 5 common warning signs of prostate cancer?
These include pain and/or a “burning sensation” when urinating or ejaculating, frequent urination, especially during the nighttime and trouble starting urination, or stopping urination once it is in progress. Other symptoms are sudden erectile dysfunction and the appearance of blood in either urine or semen. This could prove serious!
What foods should I eat or avoid if I have prostate cancer?
As made available on www.healthonline.com tomatoes which contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene is helpful. Buy ripe tomatoes, grind, blend and sieve out the juice. Drink a cup of it every day.
Other vegetables rich in anti-oxidants include broccoli, spinach, carrots and potatoes. So are artichokes, cabbage, asparagus, avocados, beetroot, radish and lettuce. Also important are sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, collard greens and kale. Using lots of spices in cooking is recommended.
Broccoli. Broccoli is a vegetable that contains many complex compounds that may help protect some people from cancer. Broccoli is a good source of lutein, a compound antioxidant, and sulforaphane, which is a very potent antioxidant,” Broccoli also contains additional nutrients, including some magnesium, phosphorus, a little zinc and iron.
Green tea is touted to be one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. It is loaded with antioxidants that have many health benefits, which may include: improved brain function, fat loss, protecting against cancer, lowering the risk of heart disease.It is rich in polyphenols, which are natural compounds that have health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and helping to fight cancer. Green tea contains a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other benefits.
Legumes and soybeans .Soybeans are a popular legume packed with protein, dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Pomegranate juice contains more than 100 phytochemicals. What are phytochemicals? They are non-nutritive plant 🌱 chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Fish like salmon, tuna and flounder are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which can slow the progression of tumor development even in men who already have the disease.
Choose the Mediterranean diet because it includes lots of healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, seafood, beans, and nuts. Other food items recommended are pumpkin seeds and Brazil nuts, and Asian mushrooms.
With all of these foods, there is some evidence to suggest they might be helpful for men with prostate cancer, but it is best to have a balanced diet that contains all of the food groups.
Read also: To avoid prostate cancer, quit smoking, live healthy lifestyle, physician tells men
Foods to eat less that may be harmful for men with prostate cancer include dairy foods and calcium, red or processed meat, alcohol and fatty foods.
The World Cancer Research Fund recommends avoiding processed meat, as it can increase your risk of some other types of cancer.
Piece of advice from Prostate Cancer Foundation
Adopt an “anti-inflammatory diet,” low in red meat, sugar, processed foods, and dairy products, and high in foods that fight inflammation, such as brightly-colored vegetables.
Eat fewer calories and exercise more so that you maintain a healthy weight. Vigorous exercise, within the bounds of safety for your personal physical fitness level, has been shown to reduce a man’s chance of developing lethal forms of prostate cancer. Obesity is linked to increased risk of fatal prostate cancer and of prostate cancer recurrence.
Watch your calcium intake. Very high amounts of calcium may increase risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Try to get most of your calcium from plant-based food sources (e.g., almonds, tofu, leafy greens) rather than supplements, unless your doctor has advised otherwise.
Swap red meat for plant-based protein and fish. Saturated fat in red meat is a cause of inflammation, which is associated with cancer and other chronic diseases. Avoid trans fatty acids (e.g., margarine, packaged baked goods).
Incorporate cooked tomatoes (prepared with olive oil), which may be beneficial, and cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli and cauliflower) into many of your weekly meals.
Avoid smoking for many reasons. Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
Seek medical treatment for stress, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and depression. Treating these conditions may save your life and will improve your survivorship with prostate cancer.
Avoid over-supplementation with megavitamins. While a multivitamin is not likely to be harmful, you probably don’t need it if you follow a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and healthy oils. Ask your doctor about herbal supplements, as some may harm you or interfere with treatment.
Relax and enjoy life. Reducing stress in the workplace and home will improve your survivorship and lead to a longer, happier life.
For men age 45 or older (40 or older for Black men or those with a family history of prostate cancer), discuss the risks and benefits of screening with a PSA test and, if indicated, a rectal examination, with your doctor
Should I use supplements or herbal remedies?
That is the million-naira question some people suffering from prostate cancer ask. But it has been proved that some people like to use dietary supplements or herbal remedies. There is however, little evidence they’re helpful for men with prostate cancer. Some may even be harmful.
Dietary supplements
There’s little evidence that supplements are helpful for men with prostate cancer. Most people should be able to get all the nutrients they need by eating a balanced diet, without taking supplements. If you do choose to take supplements, don’t take more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for each nutrient because large doses could be bad for your health.
Herbal remedies
Some men like to take herbal medicines to help manage their prostate cancer or the side effects of treatment. For example, some men drink sage tea to help with hot flushes. But there is very little evidence that herbal remedies can help to treat prostate cancer or reduce side effects.
Be very careful when buying herbal remedies over the internet. Many are made outside the UK and may not be high quality. Many companies make claims that are not based on proper research. There may be no real evidence that their products work and some may even be harmful.
What is important is to tell your doctor about any complementary therapies you are using, including herbal remedies. Some herbal remedies may interfere with your cancer treatment and some may affect your prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, making the PSA test unreliable.
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