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Foods to Repair the Prostate

A slight alteration to a diet can significantly improve prostate health in men. As one of the most diagnosed cancer types in the United States, any advantage in preventing or slowing this disease down is beneficial. Zinc, omega-3's, flaxseeds and lycopene-rich fruits all promote a healthier prostate, all of which can be incorporated into to your diet.

  1. Zinc-Rich Foods

    • Zinc-rich foods show evidence of reducing swelling in enlarged prostates. Zinc is found naturally in foods such red meat, chicken, seafood, nuts and dairy products. Taken in conjunction with an antibiotic, a study of 5000 patients by Dr. Irving Bush of The Chicago Medical School and the researchers for Cook County Hospital found that zinc reduces the symptoms of prostatitis, a condition where the prostate gland becomes inflamed. Increasing the intake of zinc can lead to copper deficiency if taken as a supplement rather than simply eating more zinc-rich foods.

    Omega-3 Fatty Acids

    • Tests done at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 2007 and funded by the National Institutes of Health, show evidence of slowing the progression of prostate cancer. As part of the study, mice genetically engineered to develop prostate cancer were fed diets with a high omega-3 fatty acid content by a group of scientists including senior researcher Yong Q. Chen, Ph.D. While a diet rich with omega-3 doesn't reverse the growth of cancerous cells, it does slow their development and growth rates to the extent that men are able to live longer lives. While supplements are possible, oily fish are the best natural source of omega-3 fatty acids. This means eating either fresh or canned sardines, mackerel, salmon, tuna and shrimp. The ideal amount of weekly fish consumption is 2 or 3 times a week.

    Flaxseeds

    • Flaxseed-rich diets show evidence of reducing the size, aggressiveness, and severity of prostate tumors. The study done at the Duke University Medical Center (with research first published in 2001) was slightly exaggerated (5% of the mice's diet was flaxseeds), but it still illustrates the effectiveness of flaxseed in preventing prostate cancer. Like oily fish, flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, while also high in fiber and lignan. Lignan is a fiber-related compound that's possibly involved in estrogen and testosterone metabolism. The correlation between testosterone and the progression of prostate cancer indicates a possible connection between lignan and the inhibition of prostate cancer growth.

    Lycopene-Rich Foods

    • A study involving more than 40,000 at Harvard University found evidence that lycopene-rich foods such as tomatoes, pink grapefruits, guavas, papayas and watermelons help reduce the risk and progression of prostate cancer. The spread of the cancerous cells is slowed down because lycopene increases the rate at which the cells die off, according to HealthCastle.com. When eating tomatoes for this purpose, 2 or more servings a week of cooked tomatoes (sauces, soups, pastes) are more beneficial than raw tomatoes. It's speculated that the process of cooking the tomatoes releases the lycopene and makes it easier for the body to absorb.

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