Vegan Diet, Lifestyle & Prostate Cancer

Today we are inundated with facts and statistics regarding the relationship between lifestyle practice and disease. While we cannot always avoid being diagnosed with a serious disease we can often reduce our risk of getting one, or strengthen our immune system to better contain spread of the disease.

Prostate cancer is one of those diseases that research shows can be influenced by diet and lifestyle. The National Cancer Institute notes that approximately 192,280 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009, and 27,360 will die of this disease. Although genetics and age are factors that are outside of our control there are things that men can do to decrease their risk of getting this disease, or slowing its growth.

Tips for Prostate Health

A British study found that risk of developing prostate cancer was reduced among men who ate no meat or dairy products. A study by Dean Ornish, M.D also demonstrated that diet and lifestyle changes improved cancer survival rates during a one year period. A decrease of 4% was found in the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels among men with prostate cancer who stayed on a low-fat vegan (no animal products) vegetarian diet. The diet also included soy, vitamin C, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. These men also engaged in moderate physical activity and stress management. Another group of men (control group) who did not follow this regimen had increased PSA levels (6%) during the same time period as the individuals on the vegan diet, exercise and stress management group. Some of the control group were also treated due to progression of their tumors.

These results are in keeping with findings from studies looking at countries in which the population consumes low animal products. Certain vegetables have been shown to be especially protective against prostate cancer. They include: Tomatoes, soy, cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, kale, broccoli).

Conventional treatment of prostate cancer includes surgery and more state-of-the art treatment include Proton therapy as carried out at Loma Linda University Medical Center, in Southern California.

Good Health Tips

• To increase the amount of lycopene in the diet include tomato soup, pasta sauce, fresh tomatoes and tomato juice
• To increase vitamin D in the body get a minimum of 20 minutes of direct sunlight to face and arms without sunscreen daily. Some research suggest that one maximizes the amount of vitamin D produced by the skin when exposure to sunlight occurs at midday.
• To increase your vegetable intake try steaming, broiling, barbecuing,or sauteing them in a little vegetable broth instead of boiling. Add herbs for a different taste sensation. Slice and dice vegetables and add them to soups or salads