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Posted 12/7/2007 8:54 AM (GMT -8)

Research studies have shown that there may be links between diet and prostate cancer.  Are any of you changing your diet to help prevent PC recurrence? If so, what changes are you making?

I exercise regularly, as I did BC (before cancer) and keeping my weight within normal limits, but have not made any concerted efforts toward making dietary changes AD (after diagnosis).

I found some prostate cancer dietary guidelines from the University of California, San Francisco, Cancer Resource Center (Natalie Ledesma, MS, RD).  They recommend a diet high in fruits and vegetables, high fiber intake, low fat intake, limited simple sugars, exercise, and weight management.

Tim

Posted 12/7/2007 9:06 AM (GMT -8)
My mom and dad are trying to implement a Medeterraian style diet.  I know red meat is a big no no. They have cut down to once a week and are having fish...chicken etc. the other nights.  (My dad loves his steak, so this has been a major change.  Now it is more on special occasions).  They have also eliminated peanuts/butter and have switched to almonds/soy butter.  Dr. Snuffy Meyers has a cookbook in addition to his HT book that is really great.  Hope that helpss!  Thanks for sharing any tips you find as well.

Posted 12/7/2007 10:23 AM (GMT -8)
A Diet rich in fruits (dried and fresh), fresh veggies, whole (fiber rich) grains, olive oil and leaner meats...Doesn't eveyone eat this way! We love it but of course Paul is Macedonian ( the other greek meat!) so it comes with the package. Macedonians eat resonable amounts of bread, pastas, rice, potatos and lots of dark green veggies. Tomatos, peppers, spinach, dark lettuces, cabbage, parsley, garlic, mint, leeks, onions, black beans, red beans, lentils, nuts, FISH, chicken, and of course FETA!!!! The very best tasting Feta has to be Bulgarian though. It has a wonderful hint of lemon in it. Like many of the eastern european countries, Mecedonians alos eat soup almost daily. Lemon/rice is a fave.

There are so many bad for you things greeks love too. Spinach and cheese pie (pita) is not exactly health food. Lamb, greek sausages, veal ....don't see the "healh food benefits" in there either. It's a diet any man could love!Greeks may eat lots of fish but they also eat plenty of red meat too. Brisket is pretty popular ARE YOU LISTENING SPIN??? :>) They love spices but not necessarily sauces or gravy.

I believe the cancer fighting key is that greeks eat little in the way of refined sugars and flours. Their sweets are, for the most part, light on sugar and heavy on the nuts. The fats are heavy tasting to light olive oils. Butter is always used in baking. The take home message probably is....Eat a well rounded diet and lay low on refined flours and sugars.

Oh...and if ya'll have never had Greek wines, they are amazing and full of flavor but strong enough to pickle a man. Maybe its a preservative :>) Anyone wanting a few recipe ideas I can help perhaps. Wine secrets maybe not. Food ideas, let me know.

Swim
Posted 12/7/2007 11:48 AM (GMT -8)
Tim

I had started to eat better in July after a trip to the doctor and a visit with the nutritionist, and after my last visit in November I am really trying to watch it after my PSA came in at .2. They told me to try and have 8 portions of furits and veggies everyday and no red meat more then once a week. I eat a lot of chicken and fish, furits, veggies and started drinking a glass of promegranite jucie a day and a can of V8 for an afternoon snack. I had my first streak last Saturday for the first time in weeks, boy had I missed it. I have read many articles of men changing thier diet to keep thier PSA in check before or after treatment so I figure it can't hurt. I do the best I can but it's hard to get that many servings in each day. I go back in January and will see if trying harder will help with my PSA or will it continue up from .2

Norskie
Posted 12/7/2007 12:28 PM (GMT -8)

Wow, 8 portions of fruits and veggies everyday would be hard.  Here's what I've done:

 

Reduced red meat to once per week (probably should eliminate it)

Made a concerted effort to avoid saturated fat

Make sure I get lycopene (cooked tomatoes or watermelon) every day

Eat soy foods.  I'm not a fan of soy but soy crumbles aren't so bad when used in spaghetti sauce

Eat fish once per week but staying away from the mercury laden species

Trying to drink green tea regularly (haven't embraced this yet)

8-12 almonds per day (selenium)

Make sure I get enough fiber

Multiple portions cruciferous veggies every day.

Pomegranate juice 8 oz ever day

 

Many of minerals above have been distilled into tablet form. However, from what I read, only the natural form has proven effective. There is even a difference in the effectiveness of cooked tomatos (better) vs. a raw tomato.  Go figure.

Posted 12/7/2007 12:28 PM (GMT -8)

Yes Swim I'm listening, and I've started to change,

I have always been a meat eater (maybe I was Argentinian in a previous life), but the kids are persistant. They nag me to eat a healthier diet so change is happening slowly. I love everything that's American BBQ, and Greek, Italian, Chinese, German, French, and any other cuisine deemed to be unsafe for male consumption after age 40.

Now I'm making a concerted effort to eat more veggies, fresh fruits, fish, chicken, ground lean turkey, whole grain products, etc. At the same time I'm limiting fried foods, ice cream, and fast foods in general; I've also stop smoking (18 mos). I'm sure this is good for me, but it sure sounds like some communist conspiracy. about once a week we'll treat ourselves to a steak, ribs, brisket, or roast, but just for emergencies; I've got a big tupperware in the freezer filled with home-made pulled Beef BBQ & a package of potato rolls.

I view myself as a work in progress.

Glen

Posted 12/7/2007 3:07 PM (GMT -8)
The biggest changes I made were cutting the red meat to once a week, adding more fish to the diet, as well as all fruits and veggies. Now, instead of chips for a snack, I slice a tomato up on a plate and put some seasoning on it. I also drink pomegranate juice every day, and have one glass of red wine in the evening. Although I have one cup of coffee in the morning, I now substitute green tea for coffee during the rest of the day.
Posted 12/7/2007 4:43 PM (GMT -8)
Is the story on pomegranate juice for real?  As the popularity spreads (not for the taste) the price is skyrocketing.  If it's that good for me I'll pay whatever, but $20 for a wine bottle sized bottle of sour tasting juice trips my ripoff alarm.  Even much smaller bottles in the grocery store are not that much less in price.
Posted 12/7/2007 7:03 PM (GMT -8)
SPINNNNN!!!! HI YA!

When I asked if you were listening it was because the Greek diet is full of both what authors say are "good" and "bad" foods. No bbq though. I think of your love of food every time someone mentions a "mediteranian diet."
Greeks and Macedonians love their food as well. You and Paul would het along very well!

Swim
Posted 12/7/2007 8:49 PM (GMT -8)

Hiya all, I have been married 44 years to a Greek lady, so have been on the "mediterranean diet" all my married life...still got Pca, go figure..Greeks do have BBQ of sorts, mainly lamb on a rotisserie. all Greek food is yummy!!

Regars Mal. (presently being irradiated...will I glow in the dark soon?)

Posted 12/8/2007 12:44 AM (GMT -8)

Hi Swim & Mal,

Mediterranean Food and Greek food in particular is a very healthier diet (the Greeks don't eat Twinkies). I love the baklava that our local Greek restaurant (Ambrosia) makes, and of coarse honey is a natural wonder food. Ambrosia even has LIVE Greek music on Fridays, how great is that? and I believe it strengthens the immune system to help fight off PCa.

...and Mal, if you do glow in the dark I hope it doesn't keep you up at nights. As for me I can't sleep because Jane has a cold, and I'm out on the couch for a couple of days.

I hope you all are doing well,

Glen

Posted 12/8/2007 9:09 PM (GMT -8)

Hi all,

I drink 8 oz of pomegranate juice every day, eat much more fruits and veggies that I did pre-diagnosis, eat 2-3 brazil nuts every other day, and don't eat as much meat with little or no red meats.  After a lot of research, I decided against the flaxseed and flaxseed oil.   I tried to nearly cut out all sugar, but holidays struck back at me yeah .

Kind regards,

Idaho

Posted 12/9/2007 11:31 AM (GMT -8)

Tim,

Thanks for your post. It serves as a good reminder to watch my diet this holiday season. As, for me: I try to eliminate whole sugars, eat lots of fruits and veggies, and keep any red meat consuption to a minimum. Nothing very new in that. But, again thanks for the reminder.

Vet

Posted 12/9/2007 4:35 PM (GMT -8)

Thanks for all the good responses to my question about diet and prostate cancer. 

I am gradually trying to eliminate/minimize the obviously bad stuff from my diet and  adding more good stuff. From reading I have done on diet, it seems that the Mediterranean diet is pretty close to what I should be aiming for, as some of you have mentioned on this thread. I take a daily multivitamin to make up for what I may have missed in my food intake.

Awhile back, I read a good book by the Harvard professor of nutrition, Walter Willett, Eat, Drink and Be Healthy.  It seemed a sensible plan to me, and he, too, advocates something along the lines of a Mediterranean diet. FWIW, Willett was the scientist whose research got trans fats black-listed.

A Chinese friend recommended Chrysanthemum tea as an old Chinese prostate cancer preventive. So I bought a bag of dried Chrysanthemums from a Chinese herbalist here in Seattle. If you try this, you'll probably need to add sweetener.

Posted 12/10/2007 6:11 PM (GMT -8)
I've made many of the changes already discussed; no red meat, fruits veggies etc, olive oil, fish, chicken. I drink green tea daily.

Here is something I have Mon-Fri after I work out. It might seem like a lot of calories but this is all I eat until lunch.

DAVID's POWER SMOOTHIE!
Ingredients:
6 T Dannon no fat vanilla or strawberry yogurt
1 cup blueberries
1 cup sliced strawberries
(sometimes I throw in pineapple, blackberries, raspberries etc.)
8 ounces pomegranate juice
2 Scoops of powdered Iso-Soy (Vanilla)
1 frozen banana
4T Ground Flaxseed

Directions:
1. Put strawberries and blueberries in blender
2. Add yogurt, Iso-Soy, Flax and juice
3. Blend on low setting for 30 - 40 seconds
4. While blending, cut frozen banana into small pieces and add through the top of the lid. (Speaking from experience, if you remove the entire lid while blending, you have a smoothie clean up project in the kitchen!)
5. After all banana pieces are added, switch setting to high for 30 seconds.Enjoy!!!!!

Yield:
aprox 20oz
Calories 456, Carbs 81, Fat 5.8, Fiber 21.6, Protein 41.9
Posted 12/10/2007 6:17 PM (GMT -8)
I forgot to add, there is a great cookbook at the Prostate Cancer Foundation:

http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.80232/k.892D/Taste_for_Living_Cookbook.htm
Posted 12/10/2007 7:19 PM (GMT -8)
David,

Your power smoothie is the best. I saw it on your site and Don & I have been drinking them ever since! It's a great way to drink the pom juice and have a number of fruits at the same time. And it can be tailored to fit anyones taste.

Thanks for mentioning it as I'm sure "DAVID'S POWER SMOOTHIE" will become a favorite here!

Susan
Posted 12/11/2007 4:01 AM (GMT -8)

TimG said...

A Chinese friend recommended Chrysanthemum tea as an old Chinese prostate cancer preventive. So I bought a bag of dried Chrysanthemums from a Chinese herbalist here in Seattle. If you try this, you'll probably need to add sweetener.

Tim,

"Don't eat the Daisies?"  Maybe so, maybe not.....

I'm not certain about the concentrations or the benefits versus risk, but I understand that pyrethrins are neuro-toxins derived from chrysanthemums used as "organic based" insecticide.

That being said, (as a Fresh Produce Manager that sells $7 million U.S. every year from my shop and always loves these discussions of diet) I sell edible flowers that in season include baby chrysanthemums.  I personally don't eat the daisy mums..... :-)

I do opt for daily Flax (cold milled seeds and/or cold-pressed oil) as a cheap source of omega three and weigh its researched suggested risk against the increasing mercury levels in cold-water fish (which I also still carefully shop for and consume..... just not daily -  $$$).
(Confession:  I also occasionally use butter.....)

I was reading an article yesterday about the AMAZING wonders of the presence of Folic Acid and these four molecules it offers to DNA
    - and reminded myself that Folic Acid also encourages cancer growth.
Just noting again that the "current" research suggests cancer patients that do NOT have any chance of getting pregnant (most of us guys I think.....) might best skip daily doses of folic acid supplements.
I am still a believer in up to a 2000mg daily supplement of vitamin D (including all sources).
It helps fix calcium and research suggests it's presence interrupts cancer activity.

Thanks to all for their input on this topic of concern to everyone.

CCedar
ICTHUS!
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