There is no single best way to prevent
prostate cancer, but several natural methods can help. These include
maintaining a healthful weight, exercising, and eating plenty of fruits and
vegetables. After skin
cancer, prostate cancer is
the type most common among American men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For the majority, prostate cancer is not fatal. The American Cancer Society estimate
that males with prostate cancer have a 5-year survival rate of 99 percent.
Prostate cancer can
still carry serious consequences for quality of life and may be
life-threatening. In this article, we describe several natural steps a person
can take to reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer.
Can you prevent prostate cancer?
Adding soy products to
the diet may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. It is not possible
to prevent prostate cancer, but it is possible to reduce a person's risk.
Most natural methods of
reducing this risk are safe if a person follows a doctor's instructions and has
no allergic response.
Incorporate these
methods into a broader care plan, and speak with a doctor beforehand.
The best ways to
reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer are to make positive changes
involving diet and exercise, according to the American Cancer Society.
If a person tries to
reduce their risk in other ways, these are less likely to be effective without
a healthful diet and exercise program.
Natural
ways to lower risk
Researchers continue to
investigate the potential for medications and natural remedies to reduce the
risk of prostate cancer.
The following drugs may be effective:
·
finasteride (Proscar)
·
dutasteride (Avodart)
·
aspirin
However, no study to date
definitively demonstrates that any drugs can eliminate the risk. In recent
years, rigorous biomedical research has tested the effectiveness of natural
remedies. For example, results of laboratory studies have suggested that saw palmetto has beneficial properties.
However, it is not an effective treatment for prostate cancer.
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
study concluded that isoflavones could benefit health in
several ways, including helping to protect against prostate cancer.
The medical community currently
holds that, while isoflavones cannot treat or prevent the disease, they can
play a protective role.
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
evidence that omega-3s fatty acids may reduce prostate cancer
risk.
However, many experts no longer
believe that the acids have significant cancer-fighting properties.
Tomatoes
Studies suggest that
tomato consumption may lead to a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
Processed tomatoes, including
all cooked and canned varieties, contain a compound called lycopene.
Some studies suggest
that this compound may reduce the risk of cancers, especially those of the prostate,
lung, and stomach.
A review 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 review 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
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
Institute 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 chemicals 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.
Risk factors
People aged 65 years
of age or older account for many cases of prostate cancer. 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.
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.
Takeaway
While it is not
possible to prevent prostate cancer, some lifestyle changes and natural
compounds may reduce a person's risk.
Anyone concerned about
their prostate cancer risk should attend regular checkups and screenings
There is no single best way to prevent
prostate cancer, but several natural methods can help. These include
maintaining a healthful weight, exercising, and eating plenty of fruits and
vegetables. After skin
cancer, prostate cancer is
the type most common among American men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For the majority, prostate cancer is not fatal. The American Cancer Society estimate
that males with prostate cancer have a 5-year survival rate of 99 percent.
Prostate cancer can
still carry serious consequences for quality of life and may be
life-threatening. In this article, we describe several natural steps a person
can take to reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer.
Can you prevent prostate cancer?
Adding soy products to
the diet may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. It is not possible
to prevent prostate cancer, but it is possible to reduce a person's risk.
Most natural methods of
reducing this risk are safe if a person follows a doctor's instructions and has
no allergic response.
Incorporate these
methods into a broader care plan, and speak with a doctor beforehand.
The best ways to
reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer are to make positive changes
involving diet and exercise, according to the American Cancer Society.
If a person tries to
reduce their risk in other ways, these are less likely to be effective without
a healthful diet and exercise program.
Natural
ways to lower risk
Researchers continue to
investigate the potential for medications and natural remedies to reduce the
risk of prostate cancer.
The following drugs may be effective:
·
finasteride (Proscar)
·
dutasteride (Avodart)
·
aspirin
However, no study to date
definitively demonstrates that any drugs can eliminate the risk. In recent
years, rigorous biomedical research has tested the effectiveness of natural
remedies. For example, results of laboratory studies have suggested that saw palmetto has beneficial properties.
However, it is not an effective treatment for prostate cancer.
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
study concluded that isoflavones could benefit health in
several ways, including helping to protect against prostate cancer.
The medical community currently
holds that, while isoflavones cannot treat or prevent the disease, they can
play a protective role.
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
evidence that omega-3s fatty acids may reduce prostate cancer
risk.
However, many experts no longer
believe that the acids have significant cancer-fighting properties.
Tomatoes
Studies suggest that
tomato consumption may lead to a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
Processed tomatoes, including
all cooked and canned varieties, contain a compound called lycopene.
Some studies suggest
that this compound may reduce the risk of cancers, especially those of the prostate,
lung, and stomach.
A review 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 review 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
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
Institute 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 chemicals 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.
Risk factors
People aged 65 years
of age or older account for many cases of prostate cancer. 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.
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.
Takeaway
While it is not
possible to prevent prostate cancer, some lifestyle changes and natural
compounds may reduce a person's risk.
Anyone concerned about
their prostate cancer risk should attend regular checkups and screenings
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