One in six men will develop a growth in their prostate.  After the age of 50, the chance of developing the disease increases rapidly, and by age 80, almost 70 percent of men will have developed some level of prostate cancer.

The risk of developing prostate cancer later in life can be limited through healthy, proactive lifestyle choices made now.

Despite tireless research, the exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown.  African American males and men with a family history of prostate disease have an increased risk for developing prostate cancer.

Middle-Aged Man Playing Soccer

Medical experts have compiled a list of proactive lifestyle suggestions that should be implemented now to help men beat the odds of developing prostate cancer later in life.  These suggestions are the result of promising early results from prostate cancer research.

These suggestions include:

-  Maintain a healthy body weight – stay physically fit with sufficient exercise and by eating a balanced diet

-  Don’t forget your fruits and veggies – eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.  Watermelon, pink grapefruit, guava, papaya and tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that promotes prostate health.  Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale and bok choy are also good choices

-  Eat a low-fat diet – this includes limiting the intake of red meat, processed meats, eggs and dairy products

-  Get enough fiber – eating a plant-based diet helps, including fruits, vegetables and whole-grain breads and cereals

-  Include more soy in your diet – soy nuts, soy flour, tofu and soy powders are all rich in soy

-  Make time for tea – drinking green tea has been shown in preliminary studies to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.  EGCG, a substance found in green tea leaves, is thought to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, thus preventing cancer

-  Avoid alcohol and tobacco – quitting smoking (or chewing tobacco) alone can cut the risk of developing prostate cancer by 40 percent

-  Take your vitamins – Vitamin E has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 32 percent.  Brown rice, vegetable oil, wheat germ, nuts and seeds are all good sources of Vitamin E.  Selenium, a trace mineral, has also been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.  Although selenium is toxic in high levels, you can get sufficient amounts of the mineral by eating fish, whole grains and meat

-  Get screened – starting at age 40, men should be routinely screened for prostate cancer