Prostate Health: Foods to Eat & Foods to Avoid
According to Dr. Andrew Weil, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona, it is believed that up to 75 percent of prostate cancers can be prevented by a healthy diet. Learn the foods to eat and foods to avoid for good prostate health.
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Red Fruits
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Eating red fruits that contain lycopene, an antioxidant, may help deduce DNA damage associated with prostate cancer. These red fruits include tomatoes, watermelon and red grapefruit.
Green Veggies & Green Tea
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Green vegetables, such as kale, cabbage and broccoli, contain phytochemicals that help prevent prostate cancer.
Those who drink green tea daily (4 to 6 cups), such as Japanese and Chinese men, have the lowest incidence of prostate cancer in the world. A compound of green tea called epigallocatechin-3-gallate or EGCG is thought to help stop prostate cancer cells from growing.
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Fish & Selenium
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Fatty fish lower in mercury, such as sardines and wild caught salmon, contain omega-3 fatty acids that may slow tumor cell growth.
Foods that contact selenium, such as Brazil nuts, shrimp, cod, turkey and tune, may help to stop or slow prostate cancer growth.
Garlic & Onions
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One-fourth cup daily of fresh, raw chives, scallions, shallots, onions or garlic might reduce prostate cancer risk by up to 50 percent, according to Prevention magazine.
Flaxseed
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Add 2 tbsp. fresh flaxseed to cereal, cottage cheese or yogurt to decrease prostate cancer risk. Use ground flaxseed and not flaxseed oil, as the oil may have the opposite effect.
Foods to Avoid
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Limit or avoid the following to improve prostate health: alcohol; high cholesterol foods; refined carbs like bleach flour and white sugar; pesticide and hormone treated food; coffee; fatty meats; very well done meats; and full fat dairy products.
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