September is identified as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, and it is the second-leading cause of cancer death in men. There is no absolute way to prevent prostate cancer, but there are some steps you can take to lower your risks.
- Eat red fruits and vegetables — Tomatoes, watermelon and other red foods contain an antioxidant called lycopene, which can effectively reduce the progression and growth of prostate cancer cells.
- Add citrus to your diet — Fresh fruit, especially citrus has been proven to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes and tangerines are all good foods to include in your diet.
- Consider soybeans — Nutrients called isoflavones have been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. They can be found in soy bean products (like tofu), as well as chickpeas, lentils and peanuts.
- Have a cup of joe — Coffee isn’t just good to get you moving in the morning. Drinking three or more cups of coffee per day has been proven to lesson the risk of prostate cancer. Just be aware that high doses of caffeine can have negative side effects.
- Limit fat intake — Saturated fats and animal fats can increase prostate cancer risks. To reduces these fats in your diet, use olive oil instead of butter, eat fruit instead of candy, eat fresh vegetables instead of prepackaged foods and choose nuts or seeds instead of seeds.
- Stop the smoke — No link has been found between smoking and prostate cancer, but studies have shown that smoking with prostate cancer leads to a higher risk of death and the return of the cancer.
- Try the fish — Fatty acid known as Omega-3 can reduce the risk of various types of cancer. It can be found in fish such as tuna, trout and salmon.
