Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in men. Symptoms include difficulty urinating, a need to urinate frequently, blood in the urine or semen, and pain while urinating. Risk factors for the disease include age, family history, and hereditary and environmental factors. Diet is also one of the more easily adjustable factors that can affect the risk of getting prostate cancer. The following foods should be avoided if you have prostate cancer:
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1. Red meat
Red meat contains a compound called Neu5Gc, which may increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. The compound is found in animal meats, but it wasn’t found in humans until recently because we lack the enzyme needed to synthesize it. As such, researchers speculate that Neu5Gc could be targeted by the immune system when it enters the human body, causing inflammation and increasing cancer risk. Red meat also contains high levels of saturated fats, which are also associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer.
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2. Alcohol
Even moderate drinking can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer by 5 to 10 times. Alcohol is a carcinogenic agent in many ways, but it’s especially dangerous because it interferes with protein synthesis in the liver, causing increased estrogen production. Higher estrogen levels in men may stimulate prostate cancer cell development. Alcohol also causes an increase in certain enzymes that activate carcinogens, increasing the risk of developing prostate cancer.
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3. High-fat dairy
Though most of the nutrients in dairy are lost during pasteurization (the process of heating the milk at high temperatures to kill bacteria), dairy products are still good sources of vitamin D and calcium. Unfortunately, dairy products also contain hormones, one of which is estradiol, a form of estrogen that has been shown to promote prostate cancer cell growth. Milk also contains IGF-1, a hormone that promotes the growth and spread of cancer cells. This negatively impacts the immune system and may increase your risk of prostate cancer.
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4. Cured and processed meats
Consumption of cured and processed meats, including bacon, hot dogs, sausages, and lunch meats, can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer by as much as 90%. These foods contain sodium nitrite, which is a preservative that can be converted into another chemical called nitrosamine, a powerful carcinogen. This chemical can negatively affect a patient suffering from prostate cancer by deactivating an enzyme that protects the prostate from damage.
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5. Fatty fast foods
Fast food contains high levels of saturated and trans fats. These harmful fats can form dangerous compounds called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs are linked to inflammation and oxidation, which can promote cancer cell growth in the prostate gland. These fatty foods also contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is linked to obesity. Obesity, in turn, has been linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
