Prostate cancer is a real threat for men who are overweight. It is the most commonly diagnosed male cancer and 25,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Combine those stats with the fact that a large majority of the population is overweight, and you can see where diet may play a big role in the number of men with prostate cancer.
Though there are some risk factors for prostate cancer, such as high testosterone levels, the fact that it runs in families and age groups (85% of men who die from prostate cancer are over 70), diet is the biggest risk factor. This is good news, because you can reduce your chances of getting prostate cancer by altering your diet.
The ideal waist circumference for men is 34 inches. Having a waist of 40 inches or larger and gaining weight early in life increase your chances of getting prostate cancer.
The goal then becomes reducing the size of your waist, working towards and maintaining a healthy weight and eating a proper diet to prevent prostate cancer.
Dietary Changes to Prevent Prostate Cancer:
- Avoid saturated fat
- Increase lean protein
- Avoid red meats
- Limit dairy intake
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
- Increase your daily fiber
- Increase your water intake
- Include soy in your diet
- Take daily vitamins
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:
- Painful urination
- Frequent urination
- Releasing small amounts of urine
- Finding blood in your urine
- Lower back pain
See your doctor for a simple blood test if you have any of these symptoms. Men over 40 should also have a routine check for prostate cancer.
