Some good foods for maintaining prostate health are tomatoes, green tea, sardines and cauliflower, because they are rich in omega-3, lycopene, selenium and sulforaphane, nutrients and bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. inflammatory.
To maintain prostate health and prevent the onset of cancer, it is also important to maintain adequate body weight, exercise regularly and avoid smoking.
Prostate cancer appears mainly in men over 50 years of age and with a family history of cancer and, although it does not cause symptoms at an early stage, it can be easily identified through tests such as digital rectal exam or PSA test in blood and urine. Discover all prostate exams.
7 best foods for the prostate
The best foods for the prostate are:
1. Tomato
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid with powerful antioxidant action that protects the body’s cells against oxidative stress, inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells and, therefore, can help prevent the emergence of problems such as prostatitis and prostate cancer. Check out other foods rich in lycopene.
Tomatoes can be consumed ripe, with seeds and skin, raw, cooked, dehydrated, in juices, sauces, soups or jellies. To enjoy the benefits of tomatoes, it is recommended to consume around 3 to 4 tomatoes per day. Additionally, while cooking the tomatoes, you can also add a little olive oil to increase the availability of lycopene.
2. Brazil nuts
Brazil nuts are a good food for the prostate because they are rich in selenium, a mineral that participates in the programmed death of cells, strengthens the immune system and acts as an antioxidant, which can help prevent prostate cancer.
To obtain its benefits, it is recommended to consume 1 Brazil nut per day for approximately 5 days per week. In addition to nuts, selenium is also present in foods such as fish, beans, eggs and sunflower seeds. See more foods rich in selenium.
3. Cauliflower
Cauliflower helps prevent prostate cancer as it is rich in sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol, antioxidant substances that stimulate the programmed death of prostate cells, preventing their multiplication into tumors.
Other foods that are also rich in sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol are broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and kale.
4. Green tea
The isoflavones and polyphenols present in excellent quantities in green tea have antioxidant and antiproliferative effects, which stimulate programmed cell death, known as apoptosis. Therefore, green tea is a good food to maintain prostate health and help prevent the development of prostate cancer.
You can drink 2 to 4 cups of green tea per day, which should be between meals. For people who have high blood pressure, the recommendation is to drink a maximum of 3 cups of green tea per day.
5. Sardines
Sardines are considered a good food for the prostate, as they are rich in omega-3, a type of healthy fat that acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, helping to prevent damage to healthy cells and the emergence of conditions such as prostatitis and cancer. prostate.
In addition to sardines, omega 3 is also present in fish such as salmon and tuna, walnuts, linseed, sesame and chia seeds. Discover other foods rich in omega 3.
6. Turmeric
Turmeric, or turmeric, is a good food for the prostate, as it has great amounts of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, helping to prevent the emergence of inflammation and prostate cancer.
Turmeric can be used to season recipes such as salads, soups, vegetables, sauces, meats and can also be used to prepare teas. See how to use turmeric.
7. Pomegranate
Pomegranate can help prevent the onset of cancer, because it is rich in flavonoids and tannins, which are antioxidant compounds that help reduce or inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Check out all the benefits of pomegranate.
Pomegranate seeds can be consumed raw or used to make juices, salads and yogurts. The peels, leaves and stem of the fruit can be used to make teas.
Is banana bad for the prostate?
Bananas are not harmful to the prostate and, therefore, can be consumed in a balanced diet to maintain health and prevent problems in this organ.
Diet menu to maintain the prostate
The following table provides an example of a 3-day menu to maintain prostate health:
The types and quantity of foods on the menu vary depending on each person’s health status and nutritional needs. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a nutritionist so that a complete assessment can be carried out and a dietary plan can be created according to individual needs.
If you want to know how to follow a diet to maintain prostate health, make an appointment with the nutritionist closest to you:
To maintain the health of this organ and prevent the emergence of prostate cancer, it is also important to consult a urologist regularly, especially from the age of 50, or from the age of 45 if you have a history of prostate tumor in the family, so that they can be performed. tests that assess prostate health.
Foods that can inflame the prostate
Some foods that can inflame the prostate are:
- Excessive red meat, such as beef, pork, lamb or goat;
- Built-ins, such as sausage, sausage, mortadella, ham and salami;
- ultra-processed foods, such as biscuits and packaged snacks, and meals like fast foodsuch as pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs.
Furthermore, it is also important to reduce the consumption of inflammatory foods containing sugar, such as soda, ice cream and ready-to-eat juices, as they increase the release of inflammatory cytokines that damage tissues and organs, potentially increasing the risk of inflammation and prostate cancer. See a list of inflammatory foods.
