Men who eat lots of colorful fruits and vegetables often have a lower chance of getting prostate cancer, according to new studies by scientists in South Australia.
Eating foods with certain nutrients helps to prevent prostate cancer and helps men recover faster if they have radiation treatment for it. A Mediterranean or Asian diet with these foods is good for this.
The researchers looked at nutrient levels in the blood of prostate cancer patients and healthy people. They found that prostate cancer patients had less lutein, lycopene, alpha-carotene, and selenium and more iron, sulfur, and calcium compared to the healthy people.
More DNA damage after being exposed to radiation was also linked to low lycopene and selenium levels in the blood.
Men with very low levels of lycopene and/or selenium in their blood have a higher risk of prostate cancer and are more sensitive to radiation damage.
Foods with lots of lycopene include tomatoes, melons, papayas, grapes, peaches, watermelons, and cranberries. Foods with lots of selenium include white meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, and nuts.
Dr. Permal Deo, one of the study authors, says it’s better to eat foods with lycopene and selenium than to take supplements. He suggests following a Mediterranean diet with the help of a dietitian.
Prostate cancer is a common and deadly cancer in men, but we don’t know much about the nutrient problems linked to it. Other factors like ethnicity, family history, and age have been connected to prostate cancer before.
Being overweight and tall, eating lots of dairy products, and not getting enough vitamin E might also raise the risk of prostate cancer, but the evidence is not as strong. Vitamin E is found in plant oils, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables.
This research is the first to look at nutrient levels in the blood and their connection to prostate cancer in the South Australian population.
Key Takeaways in a Nutshell – Health Newstrack
– Eating colorful fruits and vegetables regularly can lower the risk of prostate cancer in men.
– A Mediterranean or Asian diet rich in certain nutrients is beneficial for preventing prostate cancer and aiding recovery after radiation treatment.
– Prostate cancer patients often have lower levels of lutein, lycopene, alpha-carotene, and selenium, and higher levels of iron, sulfur, and calcium in their blood.
– Low levels of lycopene and selenium in the blood are associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer and increased sensitivity to radiation damage.
– Foods rich in lycopene include tomatoes, melons, and papayas, while selenium-rich foods include white meat, fish, and eggs.