Sometimes just a simple diet change can make all the difference when it comes to prostate problems. Don’t worry. I know what you are thinking. But I am not talking about some restrictive diet, or eating unpalatable plates of sawdust disguised as food.

What I am talking about are delicious foods you probably already enjoy, but had no idea they could help with those annoying prostate symptoms.

Relief right off the vine

Sometimes just a simple diet change can make all the difference when it comes to prostate problems. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about some restrictive diet, or eating unpalatable plates of sawdust disguised as food. No, we’re talking delicious foods you probably already enjoy but had no idea they could help with those annoying prostate symptoms.

A plate of spaghetti with garlicky tomato sauce, spicy salsa, a bowl of tangy tomato soup, and a juicy burger topped with ketchup – what do all of these tasty dishes have in common? They are all prostate-disease fighters.

The simple tomato has finally received its just praise as a proven, powerful weapon against prostate problems. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported that men who ate 10 servings of cooked tomatoes a week decreased their prostate cancer risk by 33 percent as compared with those who ate less than two servings.

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, in Detroit, found that lycopene, an antioxidant abundant in tomatoes, was the active ingredient.

Patients scheduled for prostate removal in three weeks received a 15-mg lycopene supplement twice a day for three weeks. They experienced a 20 percent drop in their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. PSA’s are blood proteins measured to detect the presence of prostate cancer. Prostate tumors among these men began to shrink. Also, the spread of cancer among them was 42 percent less than among those in the untreated group.

As often is the case in the world of research, there is some disagreement—this time over whether or not lycopene is useful as a prostate cancer preventive. But there are enough studies to suggest that it is, and no one disagrees that there is an overall health benefit to adding more fresh (and lycopene-rich) tomatoes to your diet.

Eating tomatoes is a cheap and delicious way for you to protect your prostate. Set a goal of 10 servings a week. Any product containing tomatoes counts—tomato sauce, ketchup, pizza, soup, salsa, juice, canned tomatoes, and fresh tomatoes all included.

Whenever possible, though cook the tomatoes. Cooking breaks down the fruit’s cell walls for better lycopene absorption. Adding olive oil will also increase the amount of lycopene your body receives. Low levels of lycopene can be found in watermelon, red grapefruit, and dried apricots as well.

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