Eating for Prostate Health

a disappointed man weighing fruits and veggies against fried food

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer will be diagnosed in about 165,000 American men this year, placing it second behind skin cancer.

Like many other forms of cancer, diet plays an important role in preventing it.

Diet for Prostate Health

Here's a healthy eating pattern to help ward off prostate cancer, with help from the editors of Harvard Medical School’s HEALTHbeat newsletter.

  • Helpful Foods

    • Fruits & Veggies

      Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, particularly those with deep, bright colors.

    • Whole Grains

      Choose whole-grain breads, pastas, and cereals.

  • Harmful Foods

    • Red Meat

      Limit your intake of red meat, including beef, pork, and lamb, and processed meats such as bologna and hot dogs.

      • Opt for healthy protein sources, such as:
        • fish
        • skinless poultry
        • beans
        • eggs
      • Choose healthful fats, such as:
        • olive oil
        • nuts
        • avocados
    • Sugar and Salt

      Avoid sugar-sweetened drinks, such as sodas. And cut down on the salt!

  • Healthy Choices

    • Eat in Moderation

      Limit your portion sizes, eat slowly, and stop eating when you’re full.

    • Avoid Fatty Foods

      Another study has found that eating a high-fat diet can have a negative effect in men who have prostate cancer, causing it to spread more quickly.

      Prostate tumors often remain in the organ, so treatment success is high. But when the cancer spreads beyond the prostate, it is often lethal.

      The new study showed that fat from the diet can help it spread.

Click to See Our Sources

“10 Diet & Exercise Tips for Prostate Health,” Harvard Medical School HEALTHbeat, 2017

“High-Fat Diet May Fuel Spread of Prostate Cancer” by Gina Kolata, The New York Times, 1/16/18