Medical memo: Food for thought: Tomatoes, broccoli, and prostate cancer
Medical memo
Scientists don't know what causes prostate cancer, but they have good reason to think that diet plays an important role. Since obesity increases risk, calories are the biggest culprits. Among specific foods and nutrients, saturated fat from animal sources (especially whole-fat dairy products and red meat) appears to be the major worry. Large amounts of calcium and alpha-linolenic acid (the omega-3 fat in canola oil and flaxseeds) may also increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. In contrast, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish, selenium, vitamin D, and perhaps vitamin E (in smokers) may decrease risk. Soy products, red wine, and pomegranates have also been touted as possibly protective, but the evidence is far from conclusive.
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