Foods to Avoid for your Prostate Health

The types of food that are present in your diet can have a positive effect and prevent you from developing prostate cancer. Research suggests that you would have the power to slow down the progression of prostate cancer or prevent it entirely by following a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables, high in fiber, or low in saturated fat and simple sugars. With that being said, there are some kinds of foods that can be detrimental to your prostate health and you need to avoid them. These are the foods to avoid to ensure your prostate health is in optimal shape.

Alcohol

It is a well-known fact that alcohol is detrimental to overall health when it is consumed in large quantities. Research has shown that consuming alcohol in large amounts would make you more susceptible to developing prostate cancer. Studies have shown that men who drank alcohol heavily were up to two times more likely to have prostate cancer than people who drank in moderate proportions. To be classified as a heavy drinker, you have to be consuming over three drinks daily or above 20 drinks in a week. As a man, it is recommended that you do not take more than two drinks per day. One drink is equivalent to;

•         1.5 ounces of hard liquor (40% alcohol)
•         5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol)
•         12 ounces of regular beer (5% alcohol)

Also, you can decide to drop alcohol and go for the other options out there. These options include;

•         Coffee or tea
•         Sparkling juices
•         Non-alcoholic beers or wines
•         Water or sparkling water

You can try to make a version of your favorite cocktail that is free of alcohol. For instance, if you are a fan of mojitos, you can use lemon-lime soda or sparkling water in place of rum. And, if you are at the bar, you can request that your drink be put in the glass used for the alcoholic version.

Dairy

It is not advisable that you consume dairy products in large amounts as it can raise your risk of having prostate cancer. According to a lot of research, if you drink whole milk, it can raise your risk of progression to fatal prostate cancer. Low-fat and skim milk have also been found to raise the risk of low-grade stages of prostate cancer. It would be best if you limited your intake of dairy. If you must consume it, it is recommended that you stick to low-fat and fat-free varieties as they do not pose as much damage as the others. These are the foods you should aim to cut back on;

•         Full fat ice-cream
•         Full fat cream cheese
•         Full fat butter
•         Full-fat yogurts
•         Full-fat cheeses
•         Whole milk

Rather than that, you should aim to eat nonfat versions or low-fat versions of your best dairy products. You can also try different substitutes for dairy products. For instance, you can find the following non-dairy alternatives for milk.

•         Cashew milk
•         Coconut milk
•         Soy milk
•         Hemp milk
•         Almond milk
•         Rice milk
•         Flax milk

Every one of these non-dairy milk comes with its own flavor, so you can try all the different types to know the one that is best for you. However, it is important that you be mindful of the added sugars in these kinds of milk as some are sweetened. There are also non-dairy ice-creams that utilize these kinds of milk as the base.

Red meat and processed meat

A diet that is high in meat, especially if it is cooked well, has been linked with a higher risk for prostate cancer. Research suggests that it is because of heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which are carcinogens present in cooked meat. They have been associated with the development of various cancers. The HCAs are formed when there is high-temperature cooking like grilling or broiling. The WHO has suggested that processed and red meats are linked with a greater risk of developing prostate cancer. Some of these meats include;

•         Sausage
•         Hot dogs
•         Lunch meats
•         Pork
•         Beef

Rather than opting for processed or red meats, you can go for the following protein sources;

•         nuts and nut butter
•         beans and legumes such as kidney beans, pinto beans, lentils, chickpeas, and split peas
•         fresh or canned fish like sardines, salmon, and tuna
•         lean poultry such as skinless chicken or turkey

If you like cold cut sandwiches, you can opt to make a chicken salad sandwich in its place. You can also try experimenting with alternatives for meat like tempeh or tofu, which you can marinate to make a flavorful sandwich filling.