Foods That Are Ruining Your Prostate Health
One in six men will deal with prostate cancer in his life, so its important for guys to keep their prostate health at the forefront of their minds.
Unfortunately, you may not realize that your prostate health is being negatively affected by the foods youre eating.
In this article, learn which foods you should be avoiding to maintain good prostate health.
About Dr Dan Sperling
Dan Sperling, MD, DABR, is a board certified radiologist who is globally recognized as a leader in multiparametric MRI for the detection and diagnosis of a range of disease conditions. As Medical Director of the Sperling Prostate Center, Sperling Medical Group and Sperling Neurosurgery Associates, he and his team are on the leading edge of significant change in medical practice. He is the co-author of the new patient book Redefining Prostate Cancer, and is a contributing author on over 25 published studies. For more information, contact the Sperling Prostate Center.
Red Meat And Processed Meat
A diet high in meat, particularly if its cooked well-done, may be associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. This may be due to heterocyclic amines . These are carcinogens found in cooked meat. HCAs have been linked to the development of several cancers.
HCAs are compounds formed during high temperature cooking such as broiling or grilling. The suggests that both red and processed meats may be associated with increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Examples include:
- beef
Instead of red or processed meats, try these protein sources instead:
- lean poultry, like skinless turkey or chicken
- fresh or canned fish, such as tuna, salmon, or sardines
- beans and legumes, like split peas, chickpeas, lentils, pinto beans, and kidney beans
- nuts and nut butters
If youre a fan of cold cut sandwiches, try making a chicken salad sandwich instead. You can also experiment with meat alternatives, like tofu or tempeh, which can be marinated and sautéed to create a flavorful sandwich filling.
You may also experiment with eating meat-free for some meals or days of the week. Here are some ideas to try:
- Replace the meat in your favorite chili or stew with beans.
- Grill up fish fillets instead of steaks.
- Make a black bean burger instead of a hamburger.
- Dice up tofu and marinate it in your favorite sauce, then stir fry it and mix it with veggies and a side of rice.
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Maintain A Balanced Diet
Theyre probably not your favorite part of any meal, but green, leafyvegetables are a good first step toward a healthy prostate. Thesevegetables are full of important vitamins and antioxidants that keep you and specifically, your prostate healthy.
So look for somehealthy recipesthat have lettuce, spinach, kale and broccoli to make your prostate-healthydinner delicious.
While youre filling your plate with these leafy greens, avoid charredmeats. There is believed to be a link between PhIP, a chemical compoundreleased when meat is charred, and an increased risk of cancer.
Foods To Avoid: Sugary Foods
Refined sugar is another no-go for those with prostate problems as this can increase inflammation.
Sugar is abundant in some obvious sources such as fizzy juice and cake, but don’t forget it is also added to processed foods to give them extra flavour. This includes ready meals, crisps, some cereals, white bread and ready-made sauces. You could try cutting down your intake of these things in order to reduce the pressure on your prostate.
They say fresh is best for a reason, so try swapping these processed foods for wholegrain products, fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Not only are these better for the prostate, they are also highly nutritious and healthy too!
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How To Add More Green Tea To Your Diet
If you like the taste of green tea, start by drinking a cup each morning in place of your regular coffee.
If you prefer to skip caffeine, try a decaffeinated version. If you dont like warm tea, try cooling it in your refrigerator and adding ice for a refreshing beverage.
If you arent a fan of the taste, try using cooled green tea as the liquid in homemade smoothies, or adding green tea powder.
Summary
How Your Diet Promotes A Healthy Prostate
The Mediterranean Diet has a strong association between lowering cancer risk and preventing heart disease. This is attributed to the fact that this diet is focused on whole foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans while also focusing on healthy unsaturated fats from plants. With this style of eating, theres also an emphasis on decreasing processed or refined foods along with lowering intake of red meat or processed red meats. It allows alcohol in moderation and its focus on whole foods supports adequate fiber intake. It also allows for a wide range of foods, which means its more of a lifestyle rather than just a fad diet.
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Since this style of eating has a positive impact on cancer prevention, adopting healthy eating habits now could help prevent prostate problems down the road. Some nutrients and vitamins can have a very positive effect on the health of your prostate. Making sure youre getting the right nutrients as part of a balanced diet can play an important role in the health of your prostate.
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Top Foods That Will Boost Your Prostate Health
What you eat can make a huge difference when it comes to your prostate health! Good nutrition and an active lifestyle can lower your risk of prostate cancer and even slow its progression. A diet that is high in colorful vegetables, low in sugar and processed carbs, and consists of moderate portions of meat is great for overall prostate health. Different sources of protein like beans, nuts, soy, and fish is also a good start. The phrase, you are what you eat runs deep in human existence. Every bite we take is either building or destroying our bodies. For men, prostate cancer can be a disease that you could potentially see coming and ultimately prevent if you eat the right foods. If you want to completely boost your prostate health you should add these foods to your grocery list.
These types of vegetables include cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts.
All of these choices are high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.
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Broccoli can even be considered as the prostate superfood, containing glucoraphanin, which is a phytochemical that can turn into a substance that can prevent cancer cell growth.
Consuming cruciferous vegetables can lower inflammation and your chances of getting prostate cancer.
Fried And Bbq Chicken
A study of men with prostate cancer found that higher consumption of chicken skin was associated with double the risk of cancer progression. Researchers believe this is because poultry skin contains high levels of heterocyclic amines, which are mutagens that are found in high concentrations in heavily cooked poultry. These heterocyclic amines have been shown to cause prostate cancer in rats, and they damage DNA in human prostate tissues.
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How To Add More Tomatoes To Your Diet
Incorporating more tomato-based recipes into your diet is simple.
There are many nutritious tomato dishes to try. For example, adding some sun-dried or fresh tomatoes to salads, eating your eggs with sliced tomatoes or salsa, and enjoying tomato-based soups are excellent ways to boost your lycopene intake.
In the summer months, you can buy fresh, local tomatoes to add to sandwiches and chop into salads.
Drinking plain tomato juice each morning is another good option. Just make sure to pick a low sodium variety.
Summary
Foods To Avoid: Red Meat
A juicy steak, a Sunday roast or some Italian meatballs are just a few popular dinner choices that make use of red meat however, if these are some of your favourites then I have some bad news – they won’t help the health of your prostate!
The problem with red meat is that it elevates levels of arachidonic acid in your body and this, in turn, increases inflammation – the very thing your enlarged prostate does not need! The more inflammation present in your body generally, the more likely you are to have inflammation in the prostate. Therefore, avoiding or limiting your intake of foods which trigger an inflammatory response is a good place to start when dealing with the problem.
The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives to red meat that won’t cause such issues including fish. Why not swap that Sunday roast for a tasty fish stew?
If this doesn’t take your fancy though, simply have a look at our Recipe Hub for some cooking inspiration. Our Healthy Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas is extremely popular, as is our Trout with Creamy Potato Salad.
When cooking from scratch, beans also make a good alternative to meat, plus they happen to be high in protein and fibre.
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What Is A Prostate Diet
Most of us have been told by our physicians that lowering salt, sugar, fat and trans fat from our daily diets, though boosting the amount of proteins, vegetables, fruits, fluids, fiber as well as vitamins are crucial for ideal health. This isnt only talking, nevertheless is backed with many medical research. The study also has recognized foods required to support functions of our organs.
How do eat right diet for prostate health aid men prevent prostate problems in the life? What foods men should use in their diet for healthful prostate function, decrease the likelihood of developing enlarged prostate, kidney and bladder attacks and prostate cancer?
Enlarged Prostate Diet: 15 Best Foods For Prostate Health
In many ways, following an enlarged prostate diet simply means eating a healthy balance of foods for prostate health, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
Following a plant-based diet that includes four or more servings of vegetables per day is a great way to boost not only prostate health but also overall health. In fact, research has shown a correlation between eating a nutrient-rich diet and a lowered risk of cancer.
Following a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been shown specifically to help lower the risk of prostate cancer.
Below are some of the key nutrients that help to improve BPH symptoms, followed by a quick list of the best foods for prostate health.
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Reduce Your Risk Of Developing Prostate Cancer By Eating Healthy
Health & Wellness
Healthy eating should be a way of life for everyone. Eating well makes you feel better and it also helps reduce the risk of many diseases. Prostate cancer is no exception.
The second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States, prostate cancer affects one in every seven men. There are some risk factors that cannot be controlled: having a family history of prostate cancer, being older than 50, and being of African American or African Caribbean ancestry.
There is no definitive proof that proper nutrition can prevent prostate issues, but studies show that men can reduce their risk of the disease by maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. As I often tell my patients, whatever is good for your heart, is good for your prostate.
Some foods that contribute to a healthy prostate are:
- At least five servings a day of fresh fruits and vegetables
- Pomegranate juice
- Ocean-caught fish
- Whole grains
Worst Foods For Prostate Health
Many of the eight worst foods for mens prostate health are probably in your kitchen right now. Perhaps you ate some of them today or ordered them at a restaurant last night.
Yet if you want to preserve and maintain your prostate and your overall health, then its time to make some new food choices. Change can be challenging, but the rewards better performance in the boardroom, bedroom and playroom, and improved quality of life are well worth the effort.
Once you check out the reasons why these foods have been named the eight worst for mens prostate health, it may not be so hard to put down the greasy burger and fries and drive past the fast food drive-up window
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Nutrition Tips To Reduce Risk Of Prostate Cancer
With prostate cancer being the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, prioritizing prostate health is crucial to men’s well-being and longevity. One of the best ways to actively prevent cancer is to eat disease-fighting foods, according to Andrew Woodward, MS, RD, CSO, an oncology nutritionist at Loma Linda University Cancer Center.
He imparts top nutrition tips for men to lower their risk of developing prostate cancer a vital initiative if they belong to a high-risk group for the cancer. This nutrition guide also serves current prostate cancer patients and survivors who want to avoid experiencing prostate cancer again.
Overall, Woodward recommends men stick to a primarily plant-based diet to provide as many phytochemicals as possible. These potent compounds help fight cancer and reduce the risk of its development. Below, Woodward outlines four categories of phytochemicals men can consume to minimize the risk of prostate cancer.
Exercise And Lose Weight
Exercising and losing weight are some of the best things you can do to promote prostate health. Many studies show that moderate or vigorous exercise reduces risk of BPH and urinary tract symptoms and helps with prostatitis as well. Exercise also benefits your cardiovascular health and can help prevent other health and sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction.
If you are overweight, losing weight is one of the most important natural changes you can make in improving your prostate health, whether your concerns are cancer, BPH or prostatitis. A study published in the Journal of Urology found that overweight men, especially men with a high amount of abdominal fat, have an increased risk of BPH. If you are looking to shrink the prostate, losing weight can help you reduce your prostate size and help relieve annoying and frustrating urinary symptoms. On top of that, weight loss can reduce your risk for prostate cancer and help relieve prostatitis, too.
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Foods To Avoid: Spice
Spicy foods such as curry and chilli are yet another thing you must be aware of if you suffer from an enlarged prostate. These things can irritate the bladder and prostate and may bring on the urinary symptoms associated with BPH such as feeling the need to urinate frequently and urgently.
If you’re a fan of spicy meals, try adding a little less spice or hot sauce than normal and, if you still need extra flavour, add herbs or veg in their place.
How Does Diet Affect Urological Health
The male urinary system consists of many important organs aside from the prostate. The kidneys, ureter, Vas Deferens the tube that is modified during a vasectomy, bladder, urethra, testicles, and penis make up the male urinary structure from top to bottom.
Eating a healthy diet can help the urinary system prevent bacteria, inflammation, and decrease the acidity levels within your urine. These issues, especially if chronic, can lead to many serious health concerns that men of all ages must stay on top of. Again, prevention is key in this case.
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What Is Enlarged Prostate
Enlarged prostate is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia . It is an enlargement of the prostate gland. As men age, its common for the prostate to get larger and luckily it does not lead to prostate cancer . The prostate gland is in the abdomen below the bladder that is about the size and shape of a walnut. As part of the male reproductive system, it produces a milky white fluid that helps to transport sperm during ejaculation and it surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine passes out of the body , . Enlargement of the prostate may affect the flow of urine. The actual cause of prostate enlargement is unknown but some factors affecting the prostate could be due to aging and changes in the cells of the testicles may have a role in the growth of the gland, as well as testosterone levels .
It may seem inevitable for some men to experience such condition. But a little medication can help relieve symptoms, meaning less urinary urgency and fewer nighttime awakenings to use the bathroom. Seeing a doctor could be your best option to help you manage the BPH symptoms. You can also protect yourself from its severity by making sure you get the best in your diet.
Aim For A Healthy Eating Pattern
Instead of focusing on specific foods, dietitians, physicians, and researchers tout an overall pattern of healthy eating and healthy eating is easier than you might think. In a nutshell, here’s what experts recommend:
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