The Best Foods to Eat for Healthy Living
This article will explore the best foods for prostate cancer and dive into some treatment options like ORGOVYX® (relugolix), a prescription medicine used in adults for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
Best Foods for Prostate Health
For overall good health, a balanced diet is vital. Focusing on eating more whole foods over processed or pre-packaged foods can lead to a long, healthy and happy life with little to no health issues.
So, when it comes to a prostate cancer diet and cancer prevention, what foods are best? Below, we list the top scientifically-proven foods you might want to add more to your regular diet.
1. Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, bok choy, cabbage and cauliflower, are jam-packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These antioxidants can prevent harm caused by free radicals and reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Additionally, broccoli contains a phytochemical called glucoraphanin, which may target cancer cells and reduce cancerous growth. Various cancer institutions further suggest eating more cruciferous vegetables to lower overall cancer risk.
2. Blueberries
If there’s one fruit you should include in your diet, it’s blueberries! Blueberries are one of the highest-antioxidant-containing foods. While free radicals occur naturally as a result of various metabolic processes, if they are left unchecked, inflammation throughout the body can increase, which may also lead to an increased risk of cancer.
Antioxidants, such as those found in blueberries, can help combat free radicals and prevent them from causing harm. Not a fan of blueberries? Other berries, while lower in antioxidants when compared to blueberries, are also great options. Try strawberries, raspberries and more! Add them to your smoothies or eat them as part of a healthy salad.
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3. Green Tea
Some research suggests green tea may help reduce the risk of cancer. While used for its health benefits for thousands of years, green tea is packed with various compounds that produce advantageous effects within the body, helping lower inflammation and even enhancing hormonal signaling.
Add a cup of green tea to your daily routine. However, make sure to have this cup earlier in the day (preferably before two in the afternoon) to avoid interference with your sleep.
4. Fish
Fatty fish contain plenty of omega-3s and omega-6s, which many people don’t get enough of! Research links adequate fatty acid intake with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. It’s even associated with extending the lifespan and reducing mortality rates of those already diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Some good examples of fatty fish include mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines and trout. Add these into your regular meal rotation a couple of times a week to meet your omega-3 and omega-6 quota!
5. Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain a compound called lycopene, which research associates with a lower risk of prostate cancer. There’s some evidence indicating that men who eat more tomatoes are less likely to face a prostate cancer diagnosis. This is because lycopene may slow cancer cell production and reduce cell damage.
Plus, tomatoes are super easy to add to your diet! You can have them in pasta sauces, chilis, soups, sandwiches or even as juice.
What Else Should You Know?
Every year, about 288,000 American males are diagnosed with prostate cancer. While many successfully fight and overcome prostate cancer, it can help to be proactive and take preventative measures so that you don’t need to undergo what is sometimes very taxing and tiresome treatments.
A great place to start is your diet! When it comes to overall health, diet is number one. What you eat provides your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly. Issues are often inevitable if your body isn’t getting what it needs.
Treatment for prostate cancer is never easy. Many treatment paths involve the use of harsh medications, such as Abiraterone, Apalutamide, Darolutamide and Enzalutamide. By proactively reducing your risk of cancer through your diet, such as by eating the above healthy foods and implementing a healthy lifestyle, the goal is to avoid having to turn to these medications for life-saving treatment.
Other things to consider when exploring ways to prevent prostate cancer include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, limiting or avoiding alcohol, staying sexually active, getting enough sunlight for vitamin D and making sure you look into your family history so you know your risk (In some cases, experts theorize that prostate cancer may be inherited or that a genetic factor may play a major part).
Either way, by adding the above foods to your regular diet, you are more likely to lead a healthy and long life! So, where can you start making changes today?
