The second most common type of cancer seen in men across the world is prostate cancer, it is seen in 1 out of 6 men in US. Enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia affects almost 50% of men over the age of 60. In this article we will look at some foods which are prostate-friendly foods and some which are bad for the prostate. Ensure that you have the right ones in your diet.

Foods Good for Prostate

1. Tomato

Tomatoes are rich in an anti-oxidant called as Lycopene. Studies have shown that men who have diet rich in raw and cooked tomatoes are less likely to develop prostate cancer. Lycopene helps in prevention of prostate cancer as well as helps in reducing the tumor growth. Lycopene is difficult to extract from raw tomatoes. For this reason, cooked or pureed tomatoes, or products like tomato paste, spaghetti sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato juice and ketchup can be included in the diet.

2. Broccoli

Although the exact reason is not known, some researchers think that the phytochemical sulforaphane found in cruciferous vegetables helps in killing cancer cells and leaves the normal prostate cells healthy. Studies have found that including broccoli in the diet can lower risk of developing prostate cancer.

3. Green Tea

Green tea has been a part of the Asian diet for many thousand years. The prevalence of prostate cancer in the Asian region is much lower compared to that in America. Studies are being carried out on the components of green tea like catechin, EGCG and epicatechin for their health benefits. A study conducted in Japan with 49920 men showed a decreased risk of 48% in advanced prostate cancer in men who drank more than 5 cups of green tea in a day.

4. Legumes and Soybeans

Legumes, lentils, peanuts and beans contain phytoestrogens which is a biologically active compound. Isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen, contains cancer-fighting property and also helps in suppressing tumor growth in prostate cancer cells. Studies have found 30% reduction in the risk of developing prostate cancer in men who had very high soy consumption. Another study showed 12% decrease in prostate specific antigen in men on soy diet as compared to those on wheat diet.

5. Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate is full of anti-oxidants and has been linked to preventing diseases caused by oxidative stress. A study with 46 men found that drinking 8 ounces of pomegranate juice showed delay in rise of prostate-specific antigen levels and increased "doubling time" from 15 months to 54 months. Longer doubling time indicates slow tumor growth and cancer progression. Antioxidant, ellagitannins, which is also found in pomegranate, works by targeting the prostate cancer cells and destroying them.

6. Fish

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help to prevent the development and progression of prostate cancer. The balance of both fatty acids is important and they need to be derived from diet. A Swedish study conducted over 30 years reported that men who did not consume fish were twice or thrice more likely to develop prostate cancer than men who had large amount of fish in their diet. Since omega-6 is plenty in traditional western diet, you need pay special attention to the intake of omega-3. Salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, trout and other fatty fish in cold water are good choices for omega-3.

7. Tofu

Tofu is made from soybeans which is rich in isoflavones. They are associated with lower risk of enlarged prostate according to a study published in The Prostate journal. This is the same reason why Asian men are at a lower risk of developing BPH as compared to western men. Soy is consumed on a large scale in Asian countries. Besides tofu, you can incorporate low fat soy milk, roasted soybeans, tempeh, soy yogurt and meat substitutes made from soy.

8. Bell Pepper

A study has found that vitamin C obtained from vegetables is beneficial in lowering the risk of prostate cancer. Vitamin C from fruits does not offer the same protection. Bell Peppers are rich in vitamin C as compared to any other vegetable. One cup of raw bell peppers will give you 195% of daily requirement of vitamin C. Other vegetables which can be good choices in the diet are broccoli, kale, cauliflower and Brussel sprouts.

9. Avocado

Avocadoes contain a plant sterol called as beta-sitosterol which helps in reducing symptoms caused by BPH. Taking it in supplemental form helps in having better urinary flow and less residual urine volume. It also helps in strengthening the immune system, reducing inflammation and pain. Other foods rich in beta-sitosterol are pumpkin seeds, wheat germ, soy beans and pecans.

Foods Bad for Prostate

Since you have known some food good for fighting prostate problems, it is also important to have a basic understanding about what are the foods that men should avoid.