Eating To Prevent Prostate Cancer

While modern science continues to add to the body of knowledge about what causes cancer, there are immediate steps men can take to protect themselves from possible cancer-causing agents.

One of the most basic ways to protect your system is to avoid foods sprayed with chemical pesticides. Choose organically grown fruits and vegetables instead. Certain pesticides have been shown to act as endocrine disruptors – chemical compounds that may affect the body’s hormone balance and therefore health. Natural pesticides such as pyrethrum, neem, rotenone and ryania have low toxicity. If you must buy produce sprayed with chemical pesticides, thoroughly wash and peel the skin whenever possible. A key way to minimize your chemical exposure from produce and prioritize your budget is to pay regular attention to the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and purchase those items in their organic forms. Better yet, consider growing your own produce or seeking local options from growers that avoid chemical treatments.

Another way to protect yourself is to reduce your consumption of animal fats. Studies have shown that dioxins and other potential endocrine disruptors tend to accumulate in animal fat, so focusing on organic and hormone-free sources is key. Plus, cutting down on consumption can have the secondary benefit of reducing your intake of saturated fat. Be sure to switch them out for filling foods from healthy sources, like wild-caught seafood and nuts.

Researchers from a 2024 paper found that high zinc levels might have a protective role in prostate cancer, which may be used as a therapeutic or preventive measure. It’s essential to focus on a balanced diet that includes zinc-rich foods like oysters, red meat, seafood, poultry, grains, and legumes. Given some of the limits on how much of these foods contain zinc and the saturated fat concern from red meat above, dietary supplementation may be helpful. When it comes to supplementation, it’s best to keep zinc intake below 75 mg per day, especially considering that observational studies, some spanning decades, suggest higher doses can be counter-productive. It’s also best to pair your zinc with a low dose of copper, generally found together in some of high-quality supplement offerings.

The following may also help you limit your exposure:

• Drink only pure, filtered or distilled water.
• Eat a diet rich in organic produce and whole grains.
• Get regular aerobic exercise at least four days per week.

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