Smart diet can assist cancer fight

June 5, 2008

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Donna Jean MacKinnon
STAFF REPORTER

Help Yourself

Staff at Princess Margaret Hospital have compiled a self-help book designed to encourage men to revamp their eating habits. Challenging Prostate Cancer: Nutrition, Exercise and You covers cancer risk, treatment programs, dietary supplements and exercise.

The book is free for prostate patients. Non-patients can download copies from the website at pmhf.ca/prostatebook.

Here are some of the book's suggestons:

Read food labels. Harmful saturated fats, found in processed food are a no-no.

Fats and cholesterol help build male hormones. It's possible that a diet too rich in fatty meals can cause chronically high levels of testosterone and in turn lead to prostate cancer.

Some plants provide protein (needed for tissue growth and repair) without a fat quotient. The richest sources are dried split peas, beans, lentils and peanuts. Caveat: legumes do not have the nine amino acids needed for a complete protein. They must be combined with grains, nuts or seeds.

Soybean products, such as tofu, provide a complete protein. Nutritionists recommend 40 grams of soy protein daily. It appears an isoflavone found in soy is an inhibitor of cancer cells.

Healthy men with high levels of Vitamin E in their blood have a lower risk of prostate cancer.

Selenium, a mineral, is a crucial antioxidant. Eat foods rich in antioxidants. Green tea, tomatoes, papaya and watermelon are the Big Four. Indulge in a little chocolate. Look for bars containing 60 per cent real cocoa butter or powder.

You can have your red wine – in moderation, that is. Like chocolate, red wine contains the antioxidant polyphenol.

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Dr. Neil Fleshner asks the big question: Is there a better way to deal with prostate cancer than the standard Western medical procedures?

He also answers it: He believes men can help prevent prostate cancer by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet.

"Paying attention to these provides some control over your own destiny," says Fleshner, head of the urology division for the University Health Network.

While age (over 50), hormones, race (African descent) and genes (family history) all come into play, there are risk factors that can be modified.

There is evidence a diet low in fat but high in soy products, along with certain vitamin and mineral supplements, can help shrink cancerous tumours. Researchers have also found that a diet high in lycopene, an antioxidant, can benefit men who already have prostate cancer.

But are men willing to alter their diet? In a word, "no," says Fleshner.

"Women tend to adapt to a doctor's advice. A lot of research has been done on this and it shows it's harder to get men to change their eating and exercise habits."

As a result, many heath-care professionals focus on wives to act as the moving force. Fleshner hopes that modern young men, who tend to be more health-conscious than their fathers, will take the initiative to look after their own prostate.

Toronto Star