Superfoods Clinically Proven to Help Combat Prostate Cancer
In 2010, 40,975 men in Britain were diagnosed with prostate cancer, of which 10,721 died, according to charity Cancer Research UK. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men and its symptoms only appear when the prostate becomes large enough to affect the urethra. Whilst the causes of this disease are largely unknown, it is being linked to age and genetics.
It is important for prostate cancer sufferers undergoing treatments to eat the right kind of food at the right amount. Basically, the body needs an abundant supply of nutrients and antioxidants to repair cells and tissues damaged by the cancer itself and by the treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments could also drain the patient’s strength and sap his appetite.
Many studies have shown that among the healthy foods out there, there are a few that really stand out from the rest when it comes to combating prostate cancer.
Broccoli
In 2008, scientists at the Institute of Food Research found that eating one or more portions of broccoli per week can reduce the risk of prostate cancer, and the risk of localised cancer becoming more aggressive. For this study, men who were at risk of the disease ate 400g of broccoli or 400g of peas per week in addition to their normal diet, for over 12 months. Researchers found more changes in gene expression in participants who ate broccoli than those who consumed peas. Such changes were associated with the reduction of prostate cancer risk.
The benefits of broccoli increased when it is consumed with tomatoes. That’s according to another study published in the online journal of Biological Sciences. Here, Canene-Adams and colleagues found that tomato alone and broccoli alone reduced prostate tumour growth by only 34% and 42%, respectively. But when the two were combined, the rate of tumour growth was reduced by 52%.
Pomegranate
In a study by the University of California in Los Angeles, it was found that drinking a glass of pomegranate juice daily could lower the risk of developing prostate cancer, and may even prevent men from dying from the disease. The study involved 50 men who have undergone either surgery or radiation treatment for prostate cancer, but have shown signs of the disease returning. Some were given a daily dose of pomegranate juice, others were not. Then, the researchers monitored the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of the patients (a short doubling time would mean that the cancer is progressing quickly). The doubling time for men who didn’t consume pomegranate juice was only 15 months compared to 54 months of those who did. Published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, the study suggests that the fruit contains a host of chemicals which minimise cell damage, and potentially kill off cancer cells.
Turmeric
This popular spice has long been known as a superfood but it was not until recently that the claim was backed by scientific investigations. Apart from promoting heart health and lowering the risk of dementia, turmeric has also been shown to inhibit the formation of metastases in prostate cancer patients. The findings were from the study by the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich, Germany. According to the researchers, curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, stops inflammatory reactions that speed up the development of cancer. Turmeric was also found to have beneficial effects on other types of cancer, such as head and neck cancers, according to the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
Green Tea
Another superfood against prostate cancer is green tea, which contains polyphenols that have the ability to reduce PSA levels in humans. In a research conducted by University of California Los Angeles scientists, it was found that men who consumed green tea before undergoing prostatectomy had reductions in inflammation markers which predict the growth of cancerous tumour. An earlier study by Italian researchers suggests that drinking green tea could prevent precancerous condition from developing into full-blown prostate cancer. Further, a diet rich in polyphenols is also linked to a lowered risk of chronic ailments, such as high cholesterol, heart disease, dementia, arthritis, skin aging and macular degeneration.
Apart from the individual studies mentioned, a recent study by British researchers confirmed that the said superfoods may actually benefit men at risk of the disease as well as those who are already undergoing treatments. According to Prof Robert Thomas, one of the lead investigators, and a consultant oncologist at Bedford Hospital and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, “Healthy eating and lifestyle is the main way of helping to combat the development of cancer but men can now also turn to a whole food supplement which has been shown to work,”.
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