Photo Source:National Cancer Institute
Around the Caribbean, Prostate Cancer is one of the biggest killers among black men – if not the biggest. In Dominica there is a strong chance that 7 out off 10 men over the age of 65 will suffer from Prostate Cancer. For some unexplainable reason Prostate Cancer is more likely to develop in black men.
In this post I’m going to outline some different foods, if eaten in correct proportion can help protect your Prostate gland from swelling. You don’t have to rely on good luck to avoid prostate cancer. A lot of men around the Caribbean don’t realize that they’ve control of a major risk factor – what you eat.
Prostate cancer, like breast and colon cancers, is partly caused by eating too much fat and too little fiber. In fact a large portion of all cancer deaths each year are caused by poor dietary habits.
Here are some ideas on what you can do to control your chances of getting prostate cancer.
Remember this basic rule: Fat Promotes cancer; fiber protects against it.
Try Eating Only 15% of Your Daily Calories in Fat.
If you’re like most men, you’re maybe eating 37% of your diet in the form of fats. Some dietary fats are more dangerous that others. For example some of the most harmful fats are contained in meats, eggs, cheese, cream, hydrogenated vegetable oils, butter, mayonnaise, salad dressing, and many baked goods.
On the other hand, Poultry fat has not been linked to prostate cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils seem to suppress tumor growth.
So how do you reduce the amount of fat you eat to 15% percent of your daily calories? Reading packaging labels and keeping track of the grams of fat you consume is a great place to start. The amount of fat you can eat depends on the daily calories you need to stay at a healthy weight.
Remember that one gram of fat contains about 9 calories. For example: 28 grams for a 1,700 calorie diet.
Be Sure That Your Diet is Rich in Fiber
Enjoy whole-grain breads and at least five servings of fruits and vegetables everyday. Some examples of high-fiber vegetables are: broccoli, cabbage, and legumes such as dried beans, lentils, peas and lima beans. Eat fresh vegetables raw, steamed or microwaved. Boiling vegetables tends to leach away half of the beneficial nutrients. For maximum benefit, leave the skins on fresh fruits.
If you’re Overweight, Eat Less
Obese men have a larger percentage of deaths with cancer than men at their normal weights.
Add Soy Products to Your Diet
Soy products are a rich source of chemical agents that suppress tumor growth. For example Tufo, is a soy product available in many local supermarkets. It can be scrambled like eggs or used in many stir-fry recipes. You can also use soft tofu in salad dressings, dips and milkshakes. But because of the unpleasant taste of soy milk, you can always make a half and half mixture of soy milk and regular milk for your breakfast cereal, cream soups and sauces.
Include in Your Diet, Foods That Contain the Antioxidant Vitamins, A, B, C and Beta-Carotene.
Antioxidants can be harmful if they are taken as some type of mega-supplement. Good sources of vitamin A are deep-green and yellow vegetables and fruits, broccoli, squash, apricots, peaches and cantaloupe.
Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, including oranges, grapefruit, berries and watermelons. Whole-grain cereals and dark-green vegetables contain vitamin E, as do nuts, vegetable oil and margarine.
Get Out in the Sun
Researchers are saying that sunlight help your body produce vitamin D and Vitamin D seem to slow prostate tumor growth. Studies show that men with prostate cancer often have low levels vitamin D in their bodies.
There is strong chance that this studies don’t pertain to men in the Caribbean- because if is one thing very Caribbean man has in his body is vitamin D. 
Finally Change you Habits Slowly, Over Time.
Remember to read package labels carefully and become aware of what you are eating. Get tested early, you don’t have to lucky to avoid prostate cancer-but you must make healthful eating a part of your everyday life.
Photo by:
(stay away from me.)
