How A Healthy Diet Protects a Man’s Prostate

Dr. Dan Sperling

Most men give little thought to the walnut-sized gland hidden deep in the pelvic bed. It’s called the prostate gland, or simply the prostate. They overlook the fact that the prostate is a major part of their sexuality, both reproduction and pleasure. It manufactures and secretes the fluid that carries sperm out of the body during ejaculation (orgasm). 

Thus, the prostate can give life. But a disease called prostate cancer can disrupt life—or even take it away. Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-skin cancer in men, affecting 1 out of 8 men during their lives. Estimates say that nearly 300,000 U.S. men will be diagnosed this year, and 35,000 men will die from it. Yet, when caught early, PCa treatments average 10-year success rates over 95%. That’s good news—but even better is the news that what you eat can reduce your risk for developing it.

How to eat to preserve prostate health

There’s a very large body of international research on the connection between Healthy Diet and PCa. Let’s start with the negative, or what to eat if you want to up the odds that you’ll get PCa. Here are the dietary no-no’s that studies have connected with getting PCa:

1. High consumption of red meat, and meat cooked at high temperatures, and processed meats. Red meat contains natural biologic compounds, plus added chemicals, that increase cancer risk in general; cooking at high heat causes changes into molecules that are known to be cancer-causing; and processed meats (smoked meats, salami, bacon, etc) are known carcinogens.
2. Saturated fats and trans fats are linked with aggressive PCa and death from PCa.
3. Dairy products that contain both saturated fat (butter, whole fat milk) have been shown to increase PCa risk.
4. Anything that contributes to obesity, because obesity itself is linked with chronic inflammation, and prostate inflammation plus fat in the pelvic tissue surrounding the prostate lead to mutations in healthy prostate cells that become cancerous.

Now that you know what NOT to eat, let’s look at foods that promote prostate health. In general, these foods are considered anti-inflammatory, that is, they don’t foster a stressful internal inflammatory state that irritates normal cells and taxes the immune system:

1. Plants and plant-based foods. Did you know that some people call the natural biochemical compounds in plants “nutraceuticals” because their minerals and molecular compounds are like Nature’s own pharmaceutical. They have a medicinal effect. When you think of plants, what comes to mind? Vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains—pretty much anything edible that grows out of the ground. If you think about it, all the animal meat you eat comes from plants! Our food animals are raised on food sourced from vegetation. Why not skip the “middle animal” and go directly to the plants? They are simply healthier for your prostate.
2. If you still want meat, eat poultry and fish. Studies with men who were already diagnosed with PCa found that those who ate chicken and fish had less chance of the cancer becoming worse than those who ate red meat. Other research connects white meat with less risk of cancer in general, but with the warning that continuing to eat red meat cancels this effect. The bottom line is, replace red meat with poultry and fish.
3. Unsaturated fats are, for the most part, sourced from plants (e.g. olive oil, avocado oil, seed or nut oils). One exception is omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, which are very heart-Healthy Diet. Unsaturated fats help reduce cholesterol and inflammation in the body, so they are not only good for the prostate but more broadly for cardiovascular health. 

At this point, you probably noticed that anti-inflammatory diets have the same principles and foods as heart-healthy diet. This is no coincidence. There’s a saying that what’s good for the heart is good for the prostate, and vice versa. By this principle, transforming your nutrition, whether quickly or gradually, gives you the best chance of a long and healthy life, and protects your prostate gland against prostate cancer for your entire lifespan.  

The choice is simple, though weaning off eating habits that include things like fast food, rich desserts, seared steak, gravy, etc. may be thornier than you think. Nevertheless, give it a try. The prostate you save will definitely be your own.

NOTE: This content is solely for purposes of information and does not substitute for diagnostic or medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing pelvic pain or have any other health concerns or questions of a personal medical nature.