5 foods to eat to help prevent prostate cancer

Eating healthy is one of the easiest preventative measures you can take towards warding off prostate cancer. Here are five helpful foods.

Prostate cancer is a disease that affects the cells in the prostate gland. It typically affects men over the age of 40, but younger men can get it too. The disease is easier to treat and manage if it's detected in the early stages, but it's still a good idea for men to take preventative measures to help lower the risk of getting it. Eating healthy is one of the easiest preventative measures to implement, so here are five helpful foods.

Omega-3s and omega-6s, which are found in fish, have been shown to prevent the development and growth of cancerous tumours in the prostate. Salmon, herring, mackerel, tuna and trout are among the healthiest types of fish to eat.

Tomatoes are one of the most powerful cancer-fighting foods, and all men should aim to introduce more of them into their diets. Tomatoes help increase lycopene in the body, which is a phytochemical that helps reduce damage to cells in the prostate, which reduces the risk of prostate cancer. In addition to tomatoes, you can also enjoy tomato soups, pasta sauces and tomato juices to help boost your lycopene levels.

Soybeans and other legumes have wonderful cancer-fighting properties. They have different compounds, such as glycinol, that have been shown to suppress tumour growth by providing the cells with more oxygen, especially in the prostate gland. High soy diets have been shown to be much healthier than high wheat diets, so switch out the grains for beans in your next meal.

Green tea has a whole host of health benefits, and one of them is the antioxidant effect that helps keep cells from undergoing oxidation, or experiencing excess stress. This essentially means it protects them from chemical damage and keeps cancer cells from spreading.

Broccoli and other green, leafy vegetables — such as cauliflower, bok choy and kale — contain compounds that take out cancer cells and protect healthy cells from damage. People who consume more of these healthy veggies experience a decreased risk of prostate cancer.

Introducing healthy foods into your diet or increasing the amount you're currently consuming can have drastic effects on your health. Try including more of these powerful foods into your diet to boost your chances of avoiding prostate cancer.