It’s sometimes possible to eat poorly without seeing significant negative health effects when you’re young. As you get older, however, there’s no question that a nutritious and healthy diet becomes essential to maintain overall good health and high quality of life. This is especially true when the prostate is concerned as things you eat and drink can have immediate as well as long-term consequences. But what exactly should you eat in order to support prostate health?
Many people believe they know what foods are good for them. And, to be fair, some of them might be just fine in a balanced diet. When you’re dealing with prostate issues, however, or are hoping to avoid them in the future, there are some special considerations to keep in mind. What foods hurt your prostate? Let’s a closer look.
What foods hurt your prostate?
While there are a number of foods to avoid in order to maintain prostate health, there are some that worse than others. Certain meats and dairy products, for example, can be quite harmful for your long-term health.
Meats and Dairy
Red meat is a staple in many diets, however, consuming too much of it can have negative health consequences. Eating the wrong type of red meat can cause even more harm, and the link between this kind of meat and prostate cancer is one that is well-established. This includes beef, pork, and lamb. If you’re going to eat red meat, the best thing you can do is ensure that the meat was grass-fed. Grass-fed cattle and poultry are free of additives derived from the typical corn, grain, and soybean diet many animals bred for the mass-market tend to have.
It’s not just red meat that can hurt your prostate. White meats like fish and chicken can have a similar impact if purchased without proper care and attention. You can’t simply pick up any meat you find at the grocery store, in other words, but must take some time to look over the brands present and the way in which the meat was produced. Force-fed turkeys and chickens from battery farms, for example, are often administered various steroids and hormones in order to increase the size of the cuts they yield. Buying naturally produced meat is a good way to enjoy meat safely.
Don’t leave fish out when it comes to picking your meats carefully! Farmed fish can have many of the same problems that non-grass-fed and non-organic white meat have. The fish are often fed a diet designed to promote size, not necessarily health, which results in a wide variety of contaminants in the meat sold in stores. Organic fish, on the other hand, have been captured from the “wild” and haven’t been subjected to that kind of diet. This makes them healthier for human consumption. Organic salmon and tuna are great options.
Dairy and calcium can be part of a healthy diet, but not in excess if you’re keeping tabs on your prostate health. Research has found that high calcium and high dairy consumption have both been tied to an increased risk of cancer, including prostate cancer, in men. There are a few different reasons for this, but the main issue is likely that dairy foods contain high levels of animal fat. This can build up in the system as estrogen and ultimately irritate the prostate. It’s a good idea to cut dairy products from your diet as much as possible. Consider replacing cow products with alternatives, including plant-based milk and cheese as well as those made from goat’s milk, which has a higher level of protein than cow’s milk.
Non-Organic Vegetables
Organic vegetables are typically free of the pesticide, fungicides, and herbicide sprays that non-organic vegetables are subjected to while growing. Vegetables are an important part of any healthy diet, but the latter certainly isn’t, which is why opting for organic vegetables is the best option at your disposal when you’re hoping to maximize prostate health. The good news is that most grocery stores carry a wide selection of organic food, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find exactly what you’d like to buy.
Salt and Sugar
Finally, a healthy diet is low in salt and sugar. This category shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone – too much sugar and salt lead to a variety of health problems, including things like diabetes and high blood pressure. It’s still worth discussing, however, as not everyone understands exactly how much of these substances they’re consuming a day.
If you’re eating processed foods, chances are good that you’re exceeding your daily limit of sodium and sugar. This is true even if you’re simply supplementing whole foods with canned vegetables or beans. Take a look at the back of the can and check out how much sodium is in the can – it’s probably a lot more than you think. And there’s sugar in just about everything, including bread, and it adds up quickly. Pay attention to labels and start taking note of exactly how much of the nutrients you need in a healthy diet you’re eating a day as well as where there might be an excess. Keep your food low in sugar and salt to maintain prostate health and high quality of life.
Now that you know what foods hurt your prostate, you’re ready to go to the market and buy things that will actively promote your overall health. Pay attention to labels and choose carefully – your prostate will thank you.
