In the UK, prostate cancer is the most common form of the disease found in men - and the second deadliest - accounting for 1,000 deaths in Scotland, and 12,000 country-wide.
According to the Healthier Scotland NHS website, every one in 10 men are at risk from prostate cancer in Scotland, with around 3,400 diagnosed with the disease every year in the nation. A number of factors are thought to raise the chances of being diagnosed with the disease including obesity, genetics and race, reports the Express.
As with many other illness, diet is also a factor in increasing your risk of prostate cancer, as Prostate Cancer UK state foods high in calcium are linked to the disease.
Red and processed meat have also been linked, as well as the consumption of alcohol. Now, new research has found that certain foods could lower the risk of prostate cancer.
According to two studies published in the journal Cancers, a new "rainbow" diet of different fruits and vegetables could be the key to lowering the risk of prostate cancer.
Similar to the popular Mediterranean diet, scientists found that the micronutrient-rich diet can not only reduce the chances of the disease, but speed up the recovery for those already diagnosed with it.
During the study, plasma samples from 116 Caucasian diagnosed with late onset of prostate cancer and 132 matched controls from the south Australian population were collected and analysed for their concentration of micronutrients.
The research revealed that those with prostate cancer had low levels of selenium, lutein, lycopene and alpha-carotene - and instead had high levels of calcium, sulphur and iron.
Increased damage to the persons DNA after radiation treatment was also associated with low lycopene and selenium in blood plasma, increasing the risk of prostate cancer and sensitivity to the damaging effects of radiation.
So, how do men raise their levels of selenium, lutein, lycopene and alpha-carotene?
Selenium is found in white meat, fish, shellfish, nuts and eggs, whereas lycopene-rich foods include pink, red and orange fruit and vegetables.
Examples include the likes of peaches, watermelons, peppers, cranberries, melons, tomatoes, papayas and grapes.
Study co-author from the University of South Australia, Doctor Permal Deo explained that eating these foods are preferable to taking supplements as the benefits are limited - according to previous studies.
He added: “Our recommendation is to adopt a Mediterranean diet enlisting the help of a dietician because people absorb nutrients in different ways, depending on the food, the digestive system, the person’s genotype and possibly their microbiome."
Previously, prostate cancer has been linked to family history, ethnicity and age, but there hasn't been a lot of research into the nutritional deficiencies associated with the disease.
Dr Deo added: "There is strong evidence that being overweight and tall increases the risk of prostate cancer.
"Diets high in dairy products and low in vitamin E, found in plant-based oils, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables may also increase the risk but the evidence is less clear.”
This study is the first to evaluate plasma concentrations of micronutrients and trace elements with respect to prostate cancer.
To begin with, prostate cancer can be hard to detect, and can be symptomless. The signs usually only appear once the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the urethra.
Some symptoms include:
- Needing to urinate more frequently, often during the night
- Needing to rush to the toilet
- Difficulty in starting to urinate
- Straining or taking a long time while urinating
- Weak flow
- Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- Blood in urine or blood in semen.
If you experience any symptoms of prostate cancer, you should speak to your GP. For more information, visit the Prostate Cancer UK website here.
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