Dietary Tips to Prevent Prostate Cancer from Spreading

November means Movember for many men across the country. To spread awareness of men’s health, particularly prostate cancer, many choose to grow out their mustaches and beards to change the face of men’s health.

While the numbers have significantly declined, prostate cancer still affects tens of thousands of men worldwide. It is projected that in the U.S. alone, there will be 180,890 new cases by the end of 2016.

For those who do have prostate cancer, the survival rate is very high, at 98.9% over the past five years. Radiology centers have been hard at work photographing cancerous cells so that doctors can isolate the problems before they spread.

But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be cautious. In fact, diet has a lot to do with your health and may sometimes help prevent your cancer from spreading — your radiologist likely agrees. In any case, a healthy diet gives your body the tools it needs to fight illnesses and get well.

Scientists have found that the following dietary specifications are the best for chemoprevention.

1. Consume less saturated fat. A report published in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases says that the risk of developing more aggressive forms of prostate cancer is linked to saturated fats and high cholesterol levels. Meats, egg yolks, dairy products, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and cottonseed oil are all rich in saturated fats, so look for better, healthier alternatives.
   Instead, try reaching for some extra virgin olive oil for your main source of fat. Olive oil is rich in fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Cut out red meat. Again, the saturated fats found in red meat are dangerous, but there are other problems with red meat as well.
   Many cuts of beef are treated with carcinogenic chemicals that promote that desirable red color. Cooking meat at high temperatures activates many of these chemicals, posing dangerous risks for everyone, but especially for cancer patients.
   Instead, eat fish, which is also high in fatty acids. Try to eat cold water, wild-caught, high-omega-3 fish like salmon and sardines whenever possible.
3. Bulk up on vegetables. Leafy greens and tomatoes are rich in antioxidant vitamins and minerals your body needs. Sprouts are high in lycopene, which is believed to be helpful in fighting off some cancers.
4. Watch your dairy intake. Most can agree that cheese is one of the best foods on earth, but it could hurt you in the long run. Studies show that dairy products can increase risks of prostate cancer, which is unfortunate since dairy is most Americans’ main source of calcium.
   There are contradicting reports on this, so you don’t have to cut out dairy entirely. In fact, organic yogurt is highly recommended for its probiotics that can help promote healthy digestive tracts.
5. The Mediterranean diet has been found to be especially helpful due to its high concentrations of healthy fats, vegetables, and preference towards seafood.

Regardless of how healthy your diet is, not all illnesses can be fought in the kitchen. Radiology Affiliates Imaging offers a variety of MRI procedures, with our 3T MRI providing the greatest detail at pinpointing abnormalities, and other forms of diagnostic imaging to produce images of affected tissues and evaluate cancer developments.

Preparing for an MRI or a diagnostic imaging procedure may require you to avoid eating for two or more hours prior, so be sure to talk to your doctor or radiologist beforehand.

And for the best in diagnostic imaging in Central New Jersey, consider Radiology Affiliates Imaging.