Here are some tips on how to plan prostate-healthy meals.
What’s a Prostate Cancer Diet?
The truth is, there’s no specific diet that will help you prevent or treat prostate cancer, but there are some general guidelines, according to sources like this PDF from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). Good nutrition may be associated with a lower risk of developing cancer, along with reduced risk of the disease progressing after a diagnosis. However, the research is still out on whether your diet can really impact prostate cancer risk and prognosis. Steven Canfield, MD, the chief of urology for McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), says that while there have been a lot of studies looking at specific diets for prostate cancer, they haven’t been very revealing. “Unfortunately,” he says, “none of them have really panned out to show any significant prevention.” But he adds an exception: “It does seem to be that what’s good for your heart is good for your prostate.” The UCSF cancer center developed diet guidelines for prostate cancer that recommend plentiful intake of a wide variety of vegetables and whole grains, healthy sources of protein (like beans, fish, and skinless poultry), and healthy fats (such as from olive oil, nuts, and avocado). If these diet recommendations sound a lot like the Mediterranean diet, your instincts are right: There’s evidence that this food plan helps lower risk of death from prostate cancer. Most of these guidelines, says June M. Chan, ScD, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics in the department of urology at UCSF, are for men starting out with a diagnosis of localized stage 1 or 2 prostate cancer. Another healthy option for men with prostate cancer: cooked tomatoes. Tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene, which is more readily available for the body to absorb when cooked. UCSF recommends you eat at least 5 — better yet, 10 — servings of fruits and vegetables every day. What’s a serving? A half cup of fruit or vegetables, a cup of raw leafy greens, or a quarter cup of dried fruit or vegetables. Substitute fish and plants for meat. All people with cancer, including those with prostate cancer, will benefit from a plant-based diet — getting your protein primarily from beans, nuts, flaxseed, and low-fat dairy products. In particular, eat less beef, pork, and lamb. One report showed a link between death by any cause following a diagnosis of prostate cancer and consuming saturated fat from meat and dairy products, adding that it’s wise to reduce or completely cut out red meat, whole milk, and other dairy products, like butter, mayonnaise, and certain salad dressings. Instead, add flavor to salads and other dishes using lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and salsa. Also, hold back on cheese. If fish isn’t already a staple in your diet, consider this: Men who eat a lot of cold-water fish have a lower risk of prostate cancer. One study found that men who ate a diet high in fish were 44 percent less likely to develop metastatic prostate cancer and 63 percent less likely to die from the disease. Fish with beneficial omega-3 fatty acid content include salmon, white canned tuna, sardines, farmed trout, and mackerel. Use healthier oils and lighter cooking methods. Cook meals using canola oil or olive oil in place of saturated fats, such as butter or vegetable shortening. How you cook matters, too — use low-fat cooking methods such as broiling or baking rather than frying. Skip grilling. Cooking meat at high temperatures like grilling produces a carcinogen called PhIP. If you do prepare meats on the grill, turn the meat often to minimize the char buildup (blackened areas).
How to Adjust to the Dietary Needs of the Person With Prostate Cancer
While these general recommendations ensure a healthy diet, you can play with which foods you choose and how you prepare them so that your meals are appealing and flavorful while also meeting your dietary needs. Curb weight loss. If you’re losing your appetite and losing weight, think again about what you’re cooking and how you’re preparing food. Experiment with seasoning foods differently so they taste better, or adding sauces and herbs to mask certain flavors. Cook with higher-calorie ingredients that don’t require eating large portions to meet caloric needs. Manage fiber intake for diarrhea relief. Loose stools, bleeding from the rectum, and loss of control over bowel movements happen to some men after getting external beam radiation treatments for prostate cancer. Several foods can help if this happens to you. Choose fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. The Prostate Cancer Foundation says it’s a bit of a balancing act when it comes to fiber, but recommends avoiding foods that might irritate your stomach while trying to keep up your consumption of fiber-rich foods to avoid getting constipated.
Should You Take Dietary Supplements for Prostate Cancer? Maybe Not
“One of the other developments in the last 5 to 10 years,” says Dr. Chan, “has been broader recognition that single supplements seem unlikely to offer a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer development.” She cites the large national Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) in 2008 and 2011, which “provided no evidence that selenium or vitamin E supplements offer protection against the development of prostate cancer.” And furthermore, a study of 4,459 men initially diagnosed with nonmetastatic prostate cancer concluded that those who started taking selenium dietary supplements after being diagnosed had a greater risk of death from prostate cancer. The bottom line: Healthy, balanced, and heart-healthy meals consisting of whole foods are the way to go when cooking for a man with prostate cancer. Additional reporting by Andrea Peirce
