Managing prostate cancer often means paying attention to more than medical treatments. Your diet can also affect how your body responds to cancer and its treatments.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295086f001-46ea-4562-ae8c-a1ca19788e09 For example, prostate cancer cells use the hormone testosterone to grow, and many treatments aim to lower this hormone in your body.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762909a8151b-6eb9-42ab-8d9a-57dfb7cb03c2 But some foods can raise testosterone levels and interfere with treatment. Heavily processed foods — like chips, packaged snacks, and processed meats — can trigger inflammation, which may help cancer cells grow.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762909d3e527-25f1-407f-8fa8-d28d90ac7220e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762941f7fb2f-449d-4a8e-8223-cd5d8314e325 On the flip side, eating more plant-based foods is linked to a lower risk of cancer progression.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294eec9ea8-0f5b-48c2-bffc-4d951c78413e While diet isn’t a replacement for medical care, it can help support the treatments your doctors have prescribed. Still, always check with your cancer care team before making any diet changes. If you’re looking to build a supportive eating pattern, here are some foods to avoid or limit if you have prostate cancer. Some foods can raise testosterone levels or interfere with prostate cancer treatment.
Steak and Other Red Meats Protein is important to repair tissues and maintain muscle during cancer treatment.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295c5d2239-05f2-4978-8f52-394862f7c985 But not all protein sources support your body in the same way. “Steak is a meat naturally high in testosterone precursors,” says Daniel Landau, MD , a board-certified hematologist-oncologist and medical reviewer for Everyday Health. Red meat, such as steak, beef, lamb, and pork, is high in zinc , a mineral the body uses to make testosterone.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762954b9743a-e66b-4c37-bac3-4bed9f8850c4e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c22ef565-129d-4953-9a36-adb22a966dc6 Eating a lot of steak can interfere with treatment designed to keep testosterone levels low. High intake of red meat is associated with advanced prostate cancer, says Alison Tierney, RD , a board-certified oncology dietitian and a cancer survivor.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cde3e80f-169a-4532-a7d1-49fb83c124cc Plus, cooking at high temperatures greater than 350 degrees F, such as grilling and frying, can produce harmful compounds called heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, she says.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297bd3bad0-8b72-4303-97a4-318d26b8c499 These substances have been linked to an increased risk of several cancers, including prostate cancer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762952187385-c1dc-49e3-b936-f4012e655cb6 Try swapping in lean protein like skinless chicken breast or plant-based proteins. You can replace half the ground beef in sauces with lentils, or experiment with veggie burgers, like those made with bean or mushroom, says Tierney. You’ll still get protein, plus fiber and plant compounds that can help support your health during treatment, she says. Steak and Other Red Meats
Bacon, Hot Dogs, and Other Processed Meats Bacon , hot dogs, sausages, and deli slices may be convenient, but processed meat like these carries risks, especially if you have prostate cancer. Research shows that men with prostate cancer who eat more red and processed meat, whether before or after their cancer diagnosis, don’t live as long as those who eat less of these foods.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295b490d33-7108-49fb-9592-0423165f9641 The problem is in how these meats are made. Processed meats are often preserved with chemicals called nitrates and nitrites, says Tierney. These chemicals can form cancer-causing substances called N-nitroso compounds.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629da307bbc-220f-4c2f-9d35-3ac1e551d4a8 Because of these risks, the World Cancer Research Fund recommends keeping processed meat intake as close to zero as possible, she says.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290be0b5b1-f40f-44bc-aebd-a5e900fbda4c There are plenty of flavorful alternatives to processed meat, including lean protein. Or try a hearty chickpea “tuna” salad sandwich or swap in a lentil-walnut mix for taco filling, says Tierney. These options provide protein and fiber without the harmful compounds found in processed meats, she says. Bacon, Hot Dogs, and Other Processed Meats
Whole Milk and Other Dairy Products If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, how much and what type of dairy you consume may matter. “Some evidence suggests higher dairy and calcium intakes are linked with increased risk of prostate cancer progression,” says Tierney.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f3236a15-5070-4764-98fd-b454e868e07e A study shows that high dairy intake may slightly raise the risk of prostate cancer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295e254b4a-f538-4477-b73b-f1074efbc8e0 But the increases were very small, and more research is needed. Eating dairy products can also raise levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a hormone that triggers prostate cancer cells to grow and survive.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629992fcc14-ede3-4c2c-817d-45039b3dcb66e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297e4dc70a-9543-4709-bfc8-417f1e685430 Plus, consuming more than 1,500 milligrams of calcium a day (about 4 to 5 cups of milk) may raise prostate cancer risk because calcium can trigger cancer cells to multiply, though more studies are needed to fully understand this connection.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298a50ff1f-274c-46ff-8bc7-7fdd230815d0 Dairy products like milk and cheese are major sources of calcium in most people’s diets.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291a347d3c-59e1-4c40-a2d0-c708e132d131 Because calcium remains important for men with prostate cancer to maintain bone strength, Tierney suggests choosing fortified, plant-based milk , like unsweetened soy or almond milk. Soy in particular may offer protective benefits, she says.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629039d92ef-66bb-4b13-926b-406c9464c030 Whole Milk and Other Dairy Products
Egg Yolk If you enjoy scrambled eggs for breakfast, it may be worth rethinking how often you eat the yolks. Some research has found a connection between eating eggs and prostate cancer progression or recurrence.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299b6f78c2-b695-437c-b7b6-63a1e0d44694 Men with the highest blood levels of choline had more than double the risk of developing lethal prostate cancer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295c2149c4-1743-4944-b09a-d8ce8a394220 Eggs are one of the richest dietary sources of choline, and almost all of it is concentrated in the yolk.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a305f2f4-191c-47b3-858c-9d7650c71f15 Still, the evidence isn’t clear-cut. This research is based on blood levels of choline rather than egg intake, so it’s hard to say whether eating eggs directly increases prostate cancer risk. And research findings have been inconsistent since other studies haven’t shown the same association.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762936b5ebec-d746-4c19-a71c-54f986ab0027 It’s also important to remember that choline is an essential nutrient, so avoiding it completely isn’t recommended.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762969d32ab9-4f1b-4f3c-9e26-418bc17b703e You can still enjoy eggs by using only the whites, if you’re concerned. Egg Yolk
French Fries and Other Fried Foods Fried foods like French fries, fried chicken, and onion rings are usually cooked in oils high in trans and saturated fats .e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297cde1a20-ca7a-4cd6-bd0f-747744aecb78 These foods are often high in omega-6 fatty acids , which can cause inflammation and make it easier for cancer cells to grow and spread.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294e0d866d-8799-491b-ae6e-419d87e4649d These fats can also increase testosterone levels and growth factors like IGF-1, essentially feeding prostate cancer cells.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294e0d866d-8799-491b-ae6e-419d87e4649d Try baking, grilling, or steaming your food instead of frying. Choosing baked or air-fried potatoes, or swapping in healthier fats like olive oil for cooking, can give you flavor without increasing your risk. French Fries and Other Fried Foods
Sugary Foods and Sweetened Drinks Sometimes, we just want to satisfy a sweet tooth. But “foods that create inflammatory states by promoting obesity or being over-saturated in sugars should be avoided,” says Dr. Landau. These include cookies, pastries, candies, and sweetened drinks, like energy drinks and soda. When you eat or drink a lot of sugar, your body quickly breaks it down, which can lead to weight gain and insulin resistance (when the body struggles to manage blood sugar), says Tierney. This process can trigger overproduction of IGF-1 along with inflammation that may help cancer cells grow.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629da08e871-b24e-4a52-bf53-ed8c469bcda8 Plus, when you eat too much sugary food, you may eat less healthier foods that contain the nutrients your body needs to fight cancer, she says. Research has also shown that sugar-sweetened drinks, in particular, may raise prostate cancer risk, while natural sugars from fruit juice do not show the same link.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629da08e871-b24e-4a52-bf53-ed8c469bcda8 Consider limiting sweets and swapping them for more nutrient-rich options. Try adding fresh or frozen berries to oatmeal or dairy-free yogurt, and reach for water, sparkling water, or unsweetened tea instead of soda, says Tierney. Sugary Foods and Sweetened Drinks
The Takeaway Foods to limit when you have prostate cancer include those that can raise testosterone levels, which the cancer cells rely on to grow. Other foods to limit are those that promote inflammation in your body. Red meat, like steak, should be limited because they’re high in zinc, which the body uses to make testosterone. Chemical preservatives in processed meats such as bacon and hot dogs can form cancer-causing compounds in your body. Consuming whole milk and egg yolks can raise testosterone or certain growth factors that help cancer cells survive and multiply. Fried and sugary foods can promote inflammation and insulin resistance, creating conditions that may help cancer cells grow. More research is needed to know exactly how dietary changes affect prostate cancer. Always talk with your cancer care team before making any changes to your diet.
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: Why Red Meat May Cause Cancer Mayo Clinic: Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer American Cancer Society: Study Shows Prostate Cancer Survivors Who Eat More Chicken and Less Steak May Live Longer Prostate Cancer Foundation: Nutrition and Prostate Cancer Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Nutrition and Prostate Cancer: Making Healthy Diet Decisions
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