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Best Ways to Prevent Prostate Cancer

There is no sure way to prevent prostate cancer, but recent studies have suggested that diet and lifestyle changes can significantly reduce your risk. These changes can also reduce your risk of other cancers and heart disease.

  1. Risk Factors

    • People who are heavier than they should be are at an increased risk for prostate cancer. Studies have shown that prostate cancer rates are higher in countries where people tend to eat high-fat diets than in countries with lower-fat diets. According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors and researchers also know that obesity affects hormone levels in the body, and certain elevated hormone levels have been linked to a higher prostate cancer risk.

      Another risk factor for prostate cancer, all other cancers and heart disease is smoking. Cigarettes contain many carcinogens, and smoking elevates your prostate cancer risk.

    Changes in Diet

    • One of the best things to lower your prostate cancer risk is to make changes to your diet. You should start by eating a low-fat diet that's rich in fruit, vegetables and fish. You should eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, because different fruits and vegetables contain different vitamins and antioxidants. Eating fish will help you get more Omega-3 fatty acids, which may lower your risk of prostate cancer and other cancers.

      Also, eat more soy products. Soy products contain phytoestrogens, which act like estrogen in the body. Estrogen may help lower other hormone levels that contribute to your prostate cancer risk.

      Drinking green tea may help prevent prostate cancer because green tea contains the antioxidant polyphenol, which may discourage cancer cells from forming.

    New Studies

    • Studies on how to best prevent prostate cancer are ongoing. Recently, lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, has shown promise in preventing prostate cancers and other cancers.

      Perhaps most promising is a new drug called finasteride. According to U.S. News and World Report, during the clinical study on this drug in 2003, it was shown to be so effective in preventing prostate cancer that the researchers suggested that it would be unethical to continue giving the control group a placebo. However, this pill comes with some serious side effects, including sexual side effects and development of tumors elsewhere in the body. Finasteride is still under scrutiny in the medical community.

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