Foods that protect the prostate and reduce the risk of cancer

The risk of prostate cancer increases with age. However, this risk can be reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet.

A comparison between countries shows that the development of prostate cancer depends, among other factors, on diet. In countries such as Japan, China or southern Europe, tumors appear much less often than in Western Europe and the United States, according to a report in Deutsche Welle.

The researchers believe the difference is due in part to dietary methods, with Japanese and Chinese residents traditionally dependent on more fish, seafood and soy products.

A study conducted at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States showed that diet-related molecules in the intestine are linked to the development of aggressive (growing viciously) prostate cancer and that changing the diet can significantly reduce this risk, according to what Deutsche Welle quoted from the German “Heil Praxis” website. .

In this regard, the German Cancer Society (DKG) recommends avoiding obesity, exercising regularly, and eating in moderation in red meat and meat products.

Foods that protect the prostate and may reduce the risk of cancer

Tomato and soybean

According to the German Cancer Society, some plant components protect the prostate, including phytoestrogen, which is abundant in soybeans, lycopene, a component of tomatoes, and capsaicin, which is found in hot peppers.

Eat salmon regularly

It is clear that regular consumption of salmon and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also reduce the risk of developing prostate tumors. A study from the University of California showed that men who ate salmon once or more per week had a 63% lower risk of developing some form of cancer.

Green tea

Green tea consumption is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, a finding presented by researchers from the Japan National Cancer Center in Tokyo after evaluating data on 50,000 patients from the Public Health Center in Japan.

Green tea contains polyphenols, a plant substance that has anti-cancer effects.

Basic examination

But even a healthy lifestyle does not provide 100% protection from disease. To detect changes in the prostate early, men should go to a urologist for an early examination.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that begins in the prostate gland. The risk of prostate cancer increases after the age of 65, and the risk of developing it can be reduced by eating a healthy diet that has low levels of fat, and by following a healthy lifestyle.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that forms part of a man's reproductive system. It lies beneath the urinary bladder and winds around the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside. The prostate secretes fluids that enter the formation of semen.

Prostate cancer is the number one cause of death among cancer types in men over the age of 75, and it is rare for men under the age of forty.

Prostate cancer occurs when a mutation occurs in the genetic material "DNA" "DNA" in the cells to become abnormal, constantly growing and not dying, and although the exact cause of this transformation is unknown, there are factors that increase the possibility of infection.

Risk factors

Age. Most cases of prostate cancer appear in people over 65 years of age.

A satisfactory family history of prostate cancer.

A satisfactory family history of breast cancer in women.

If there is a family history of mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.

Obesity-

Eat a diet rich in fats, especially animal fats.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually appear with the advanced stages of the disease, so doctors seek to detect it in its early stages and before symptoms appear, in order to enhance the chances of recovery.

-Delayed urination or difficulty starting or continuing urination.

-Urine leakage;

-Slow flow of urine

-Inability to completely empty the bladder.

-Blood or semen in the urine

-Pain in the back and pelvis, and this occurs when the cancer has spread and reached these areas.

Detecting prostate cancer

Early detection of the disease is one of the most important methods of treatment, through many tests, including:

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test

A sample is taken from the person’s blood and a substance called “prostate specific antigen PSA” is measured, which is naturally secreted from the prostate and is found in low concentrations in the blood, but it rises in certain cases, such as:

-Prostate cancer.

-Prostatitis.

-Prostate enlargement.

The specific antiprostatic concentration is considered normal if it is equal to or less than 4 nanograms per milliliter, but if it exceeds this, the doctor takes a biopsy of the prostate tissue and examines it to ensure the presence or absence of cancerous growth.

Currently, many medical authorities recommend the use of PSA as a preventive test for prostate cancer, for men over the age of 50.

If the person is from the group that has a high risk of developing prostate cancer, such as the one who has a family history of the disease, it is recommended to have a specific anti-prostate examination at the age of 40 or 45 years. Talk to your doctor about the test, how often and when you need it, and whether you need other tests.

Transrectal examination of the prostate

The doctor examines the prostate gland by sensing it through the lower part of the rectum, to check for any changes in its size or abnormalities.

Biopsy

The doctor takes a sample of prostate tissue and examines it under a microscope to detect the presence of cancerous cells.

However, it should be noted that recording a high result in the specific antiprostate screening test is not enough to conclude that a person has prostate cancer, as the increase may be due to other reasons such as inflammation or inflation.

Also, in some cases, prostate cancer may occur, however, the results of the specific antiprostatic test are normal, and therefore this test must be done with other tests such as a transrectal examination and biopsy.