What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate gland. The gland sits just below the bladder in males. It surrounds the top part of the tube that drains urine from the bladder, called the urethra.
Causes of Prostate cancer?
It’s not known exactly what causes prostate cancer, although a number of things can increase your risk of developing the condition.
Risk factors for prostate cancer include:
Age. Approximately 60 percent of all prostate cancer diagnoses occur in males aged 65 or older.
Genetics. The highest rates of prostate cancer in the U.S. occur in African-American men, followed by men who are Caucasian, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander, respectively.
Diet. A diet rich in fat and low in fruits and vegetables increases the risk of prostate cancer.
Environment. Exposure to some industrial chemicals also increases this risk.
Family history. If a father or brother has had prostate cancer, a person has more than twice the risk of developing it.
Below are some natural remedies that are commonly used to lower the risk of prostate cancer.
Soy products:
Isoflavones are a chemical compound with anti-inflammatory properties. The foods with the highest concentrations of isoflavones are soybean products, including:
tofu
soy milk
miso
Other foods that contain isoflavones include:
chickpeas
beans
alfalfa
A 2016 studyTrusted Source concluded that isoflavones could benefit health in several ways, including helping to protect against prostate cancer.
Omega-3 fatty acids:
Omega-3 fatty acids are present in fish and other types of seafood. Additional sources include:
walnuts
flax seeds
soybeans
There is some evidenceTrusted Source that omega-3s fatty acids may reduce prostate cancer risk.
Tomatoes:
Processed tomatoes, including all cooked and canned varieties, contain a compound called lycopene.
Some studiesTrusted Source suggest that this compound may reduce the risk of cancers, especially those of the prostate, lung, and stomach.
A reviewTrusted Source from 2016 found that increased tomato consumption resulted in a reduced risk of prostate cancer, though the authors note that more research is needed.
Grapefruit, watermelon, and apricots also contain lycopene.
Coffee:
In 2016, researchers published a reviewTrusted Source of 105 studies that considered the effects of coffee on cancer risk.
They concluded that coffee and its antioxidant capabilities may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer and some other types of the disease.
What to avoid:
Some compounds in foods may increase a person’s risk of developing prostate cancer.
Consider avoiding the following:
Selenium and vitamin E:
The medical community once considered selenium and vitamin E to be opponents of cancer.
However, more recent research suggests that these compounds, when taken together or in isolation, can increase the risk of prostate cancer in some people.
Anyone concerned about prostate cancer should avoid supplements containing vitamin E or selenium.
Vegetable oils;
A diet excessively high in fat can increase the risk of many types of cancer, and the omega-6 fatty acids in vegetable oils may promote the growth of prostate cancer cells.
Oils derived from corn, sunflowers, safflowers, cottonseed, and soybeans, for example, can contain substantial amounts of omega-6 fatty acids.
Grilled or fried meats:
The National Cancer InstituteTrusted Source in the United States advises against eating meats cooked at high temperatures, typically by grilling or frying.
When a person cooks muscle meat, including beef, pork, and poultry, at high temperatures, the meat may form chemicalsTrusted Source that cause changes in DNA, resulting in an increased risk of cancer.
Sugar and carbohydrates:
The glycemic load and glycemic index measurements show how quickly carbohydrates and sugars affect a person’s blood sugar and insulin.
Some studies have suggested that a diet with a high glycemic load may increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report that, while the relationship between sugar and cancer remains complex, sugar may have the highest impact on the risk of prostate, colorectal and pancreatic cancers.
Get regular testing:
A lifestyle that includes exercise and a healthful diet can help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
However, attending regular checkups and screenings is still the best way to handle this risk.
Speak with a doctor before trying natural or alternative ways to prevent cancer.
