The right diet is the key to managing many diseases and to improving general quality of life. For this condition, scientific research has found benefit in the following healthy eating tips.

• Cruciferous Vegetables

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  Cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower, may protect against prostate cancer.

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  Cruciferous Vegetables

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  Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower belong to the Brassica family of vegetables, also known as “cruciferous” vegetables. In test tube and animal studies, these foods have shown to have anticancer activity,²⁴ possibly due to several substances found in them, such as indole-3-carbinol,²⁵ glucaric acid (calcium D-glucarate),²⁶ and sulforaphane.²⁷ A recent preliminary study of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer showed a 41% decreased risk of prostate cancer among men eating three or more servings of cruciferous vegetables per week, compared with those eating less than one serving per week.²⁸ Protective effects of cruciferous vegetables were thought to be due to their high concentration of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as their stimulatory effects on the breakdown of environmental carcinogens associated with prostate cancer.²⁸

• Fish

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  Fish eaters have been reported to have a low risk of prostate cancer, possibly due to fish’s high omega-3 fatty acid content.

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  Fish

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  Fish eaters have been reported to have low risk for prostate cancer.²⁹ The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are thought by some researchers to be the components of fish responsible for protection against cancer.³⁰

• Meat

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  Research suggests that frequently eating meat, well-done steak, or cured meats may increase prostate cancer risk, though the association between prostate cancer and other meats has not been confirmed.

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  Meat

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  Meat contains high amounts of arachidonic acid. Some by-products of arachidonic acid have promoted prostate cancer in animals.³¹ Preliminary reports have suggested that frequently eating well-done steak³² or cured meats³³ may also increase the risk of prostate cancer in men, though the association between prostate cancer and other meats has not been consistently reported.

• Soy Foods

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  Genistein, found in soy foods, has been shown to inhibit growth of prostate cancer cells, help kill these cells, and exhibit other anticancer actions in test-tube studies, more research is needed to confirm these findings

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  Soy Foods

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  In preliminary research, men who consumed soy milk more than once per day were reported to have a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer compared with other men.³⁴ Genistein is an isoflavone found in soybeans and many soy foods, such as tofu, soy milk, and some soy protein powders. Except for soy sauce and soy protein concentrates processed with alcohol, most soy-based foods contain significant amounts of isoflavones, such as genistein. Some researchers are now saying that genistein may eventually be shown to have the potential to treat prostate cancer,³⁵ while others say only that enough evidence exists to recommend that future genistein research be devoted to the subject of prostate cancer prevention.³⁶

• Tomatoes

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  Tomatoes may protect against a variety of cancers, and their protective effect seems to be stronger for prostate cancer than for most other cancers.

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  Tomatoes

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  Tomatoes contain lycopene—an antioxidant similar in structure to beta-carotene. Most lycopene in our diet comes from tomatoes, though traces of lycopene exist in other foods. Lycopene has been reported to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in test tube research.³⁷

  A review of published research found that higher intake of tomatoes or higher blood levels of lycopene correlated with a reduced risk of cancer in 57 of 72 studies. Findings in 35 of these studies were statistically significant.³⁸ Evidence of a protective effect for tomato consumption was stronger for prostate cancer than for most other cancers.

• Beer

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  Although the effect of drinking alcohol on prostate cancer risk appears weak, some association between beer drinking and an increased risk may exist.

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  Beer

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  Although the effect of drinking alcohol on prostate cancer risk appears weak, some association between beer drinking and an increased risk may exist, according to an analysis of most published reports.³⁹

• Low-Fat

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  Men who ate a high-fat, low-fiber diet were reported to have higher levels of testosterone, which might increase prostate cancer risk.

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  Low-Fat

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  When combined with a low-fiber diet, men consuming a high-fat diet have been reported to have higher levels of testosterone,⁴⁰ which might increase their risk of prostate cancer. The risk of prostate cancer correlates with dietary fat from country to country,⁴¹ a finding supported in some,^42,43 but not all,⁴⁴ preliminary trials.