You probably know someone who has had or had prostate cancer. A friend probably. Or a friend of a friend that you play poker with. Or even someone closer to you like your cousin or uncle. That’s certainly not surprising given that prostate cancer is a fairly common disease. It beats tens of thousands of men every year. And more than 30,000 men die each year, making it the second most common cause of cancer death in men in the United States.

However, on the plus side, prostate cancer is highly curable. In fact, it is 100% curable. But there’s a catch to getting that kind of cure rate. That happens if and only if the cancer has been diagnosed early and is classified as an early-stage cancer. Meaning that the cancer cells are still locally in the prostate region and have not yet spread to other parts of the body.

Still, as the common saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Because not all cancers are detected on time. So not all victims enjoy such high cure rates.

So how do we prevent prostate cancer? Well, many studies have been done and the results were often contradictory. But in general, prostate cancer prevention basically means doing anything that improves your overall health.

However, high-risk patients should take this matter seriously. Since they are the most likely to develop cancer. Who are these men?

Men 65 years and older. The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age. But it is now being debated whether treatment is necessary if this cancer is diagnosed in older men. Most cases of prostate cancer are actually slow growing. That means these men are even more likely to die for reasons unrelated to their cancer.

African American men. Several studies show that African-American men are much more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men. And Asian men (not those who migrated west, but men who live in Asia) are much less likely to develop cancer. Does diet play a role here? We’ll find out later.

Men with a history of prostate cancer. If your father or brother developed prostate cancer, then you are twice as likely to develop the same cancer as well. If this is the case, early evaluation should be done, preferably when you turn 45, so that cancer can be detected and prompt treatment can be given.

Diet rich in saturated fat. Several studies have shown the relationship between prostate cancer and a diet high in saturated fat. Are you fond of eating in fast foods? Are you a lover of red meat? So you practically have a high risk of developing cancer. Even dairy products, including milk, have been shown to increase the risk of prostate cancer. On the other hand, studies show that men whose diet is low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of developing cancer.

If you noticed, the first three predisposing risks mentioned are things we have no control over. But the last one is really in the power of your hands. Or should I say your mouth. So how can you change your diet to improve your prostate health? Let’s count the shapes.

Number 1: The often misunderstood role of green tea

Asian men do not succumb to prostate cancer anywhere near the rates that Westerners do. Which might make you wonder why. It could be something about your diet then, right? More likely. In fact, what researchers recently discovered is that drinking green tea may play a role in preventing prostate cancer.

Green tea is a staple drink in China, where 10 to 20 cups of green tea a day is the norm. And for thousands of years, green tea extract has been a common ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. What have the Chinese discovered about green tea that other parts of the world have not?

For one, it contains such powerful ingredients, primarily polyphenols, that have been shown to have an impact on the development of prostate cancer. And not only that, green tea can help prevent health problems like high cholesterol, Alzheimer’s disease, blood clots, obesity, depression, and headaches.

Hmm. Thus, green tea not only suppresses the growth of these cancer cells, but more recent studies also suggest that green tea may possibly play a role in the prevention of prostate cancer.

Of course, how many men living in the United States drink green tea every day? Don’t be surprised if no one raises their hand next to you.

However, green tea alone is not enough. So, basically, you need to determine which foods need to be added to or removed from your diet to keep prostate cancer at bay, whether you’re at high risk or not.

Number 2: Omega 3 Fatty Acids

So another good idea is to limit the amount of fat you consume every day. Better yet, eat more fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids like tuna, mackerel, and salmon.

Number 3: tomatoes and grapefruit

Lycopene is another important natural ingredient that has been shown to possibly help prevent prostate cancer. Lycopene is found mainly in tomatoes and pink grapefruit. This powerful antioxidant is also better absorbed by the body when the tomatoes you eat are cooked.

Number 4: Reduce Calcium

We mentioned that a diet high in dairy has been linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer, right? And that’s because too much calcium in the body can actually do more harm than good. Therefore, limit your calcium intake to 1,500 mg per day. And supplementation is probably not necessary at all if you eat eggs, cheeses, or drink milk regularly.

Number 5: Fruits and Vegetables

Then there is the old eating 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. But you want to embrace this because it’s healthy and good for you, even though such amounts go far beyond preventing prostate cancer. Now we are talking about helping to improve your overall health.

Clearly, drinking green tea, lycopene, healthy fats, and all kinds of fruits and vegetables can greatly benefit prostate health. But doing this as part of your lifestyle will certainly benefit you the most. Diet along with exercise will help improve prostate health. And while we’re at it, you might also want to think about limiting your alcohol intake and minimizing your smoking habit if you can’t quit completely. Naturally, if you feel that all this is too much, make these changes little by little. And before you know it, you’ll be the healthiest guy in your group of poker friends.