Preventing
Prostate
Cancer
by: News Canada
(NC)-It is increasingly recognized
that diet plays a role in prostate cancer, a disease that affects
one in eight men. For optimal health, it's important to exercise
regularly and eat according to Canada's Food Guide, which recommends
lots of fruits and vegetables, many of which contain the antioxidant
selenium.
"Antioxidants help neutralize the
influence of free-radical oxygen molecules which can cause cell damage
that can lead to prostate cancer," said John Blanchard, President
of the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada. "Our bodies
need a diet rich in vitamins and minerals to help prevent the disease."
Recent studies suggest that selenium
and vitamin E may reduce a man's risk of developing prostate cancer.
One study showed that the incidence of prostate cancer was markedly
lower in those who supplemented their diets with selenium, while
another found that the occurrence of prostate cancer and the risk
of death from prostate cancer was significantly less in those who
supplemented their diet with vitamin E.
Because of these positive findings, a
large study called the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial
(SELECT) was recently launched to specifically determine whether
selenium and vitamin E, individually and together, can help prevent
prostate cancer.
Foods that contain selenium include
seafood, meat, grains, and certain types of nuts. It is very difficult
to get the recommended amount of vitamin E through diet alone, however
it can be found in vegetable oil, nuts, whole grains and wheat
germ. As it's not always easy to eat well, consider taking a daily
multivitamin such as Centrum® to ensure an adequate intake of selenium
and vitamin E on a regular basis.
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