What Are the Worst Foods for Your Prostate? 6 Foods and Drinks That May Increase Prostate Cancer Risk

As men get older, they’re more likely to have problems with their prostate. Of these problems, prostate cancer is one of the most serious. 

Many things can increase your risk for prostate cancer, including genetics, exposure to certain toxins, and aging. Diet also plays a role. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the foods and beverages that are the worst for prostate health — specifically when it comes to prostate cancer. 

1. Fried foods

Fried foods include any foods cooked in hot oil, such as:

• French fries

• Corn dogs

• Mozzarella sticks

• Fried chicken

• Potato chips

• Tempura

• Onion rings

• Donuts

While these foods may be tasty, they come with risks for your overall health — and for the prostate specifically. When researchers pooled data from multiple studies, they found that people who ate more fried food had a 35% increased rate of prostate cancer. Other research has found similar results. 

Fried food is also high in saturated fat, which increases “bad” LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol — a risk factor for heart disease. But keep in mind that not all fat is bad for you. Some healthy fats — like polyunsaturated fats — may actually improve prostate health. For example, omega-3 fatty acids are linked to a reduction in prostate tumor growth. Foods containing omega-3s include oily fish, nuts, seeds, and plant oils (like soybean oil). 

2. Processed meats

More research is needed on the connection between different types of meat and prostate health. One review of the relevant research shows a potential link between processed meats and prostate cancer. But it may not raise the risk by a lot.

Another study found that the more processed meats people ate, the more likely they were to develop prostate cancer. 

Examples of processed meat include:

• Bacon

• Deli meats like turkey, ham, and bologna

• Sausage or bratwurst 

• Hot dogs 

• Jerky

• Canned meats

What’s not as clear is whether red meat that isn’t processed — such as beef, pork, veal, or lamb — increases the risk for prostate cancer. One study connected eating hamburgers, grilled red meat, and well-done red meat with poor prostate health. But this finding may have been because the red meat was cooked on high heat. Studies have shown that cooking animal proteins (specifically red meat) with high heat can release cancer-causing chemicals.   

Following a plant-based diet may lower your risk of developing prostate cancer. And evidence suggests that eating a plant-based diet also lowers your risk of developing more high-risk types of prostate cancer.

3. Dairy

Some dairy foods may raise the risk for prostate cancer. Studies show that high-fat dairy products, like whole milk, can increase your risk of developing more aggressive forms of prostate cancer. This doesn’t mean you have to cut dairy products from your diet entirely. But you should opt for low-fat or no-fat options most of the time.  

Some researchers believe that the calcium in dairy is what leads to the increase in the risk of prostate cancer. Others believe that this link may be because of dairy’s fat content. So more research is needed to learn more about the association between prostate cancer and dairy consumption. 

4. Sugary foods and drinks

Consuming too much sugar may raise levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein that the prostate gland produces. Increased PSA levels don’t necessarily mean you have prostate cancer. But they can be a sign of prostate cancer or other prostate-related health issues. 

Sugar is found in many processed foods, such as:

• Desserts, like cookies, brownies, and ice cream 

• Breakfast cereal 

• Packaged bread 

• Condiments and sauces

• Yogurt and other dairy products

• Crackers, pretzels, and other snacks

But it’s important to note that there’s a difference between foods with naturally occurring carbohydrates and those with added sugar. Fruits, vegetables, and legumes contain some carbohydrates. But these foods also contain beneficial fiber. Fiber helps you feel full, balances your blood sugar, and reduces cholesterol. So these foods are better carbohydrate choices than processed foods with added sugar — both for prostate and overall health. 

Unsurprisingly, sugar-sweetened beverages are also associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer. One study found that sugar-sweetened beverages are even more highly associated with prostate cancer than a diet high in sugary foods. 

Sugar-sweetened drinks can include:

• Soda

• Coffee and tea with added sugar

• Sports drinks

• Energy drinks

• Fruit drinks

• Sugar-sweetened water

If you’re trying to reduce your sugar intake, try cutting back on sugary drinks. Especially if you’re making dietary changes for your prostate health. 

5. Alcohol

There’s no amount of alcohol that’s considered safe to drink. So if you don’t drink, don’t start. If you do drink, the CDC recommends that men consume a maximum of 2 drinks per day. 

One study found a link between high alcohol intake and prostate cancer development. In this study, high alcohol intake refers to more than 14 alcoholic beverages per week. Additional research suggests that this is a dose-dependent relationship. That means the more alcohol you drink, the higher your risk of developing prostate cancer. 

There is one type of alcoholic beverage — red wine — with mixed research. Red wine contains polyphenols, plant compounds that can help lower inflammation. And red wine is included in the Mediterranean diet. This eating pattern is associated with many health benefits, including a lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer. So more research is needed to see if the benefits of red wine outweigh the risk for prostate health issues. 

6. High-sodium foods

You may already know that eating foods high in sodium can raise blood pressure, which increases your risk for many health conditions. But consuming too much sodium also causes inflammation throughout the body. This can increase the risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition that causes prostate enlargement and urinary symptoms. 

Foods high in sodium include:

• Processed foods

• Ready-made meals

• Packaged breads

• Pizza

• Cold cuts/luncheon meats

• Canned soup

Best foods for prostate health

While some foods are bad for your prostate, others may benefit prostate health by lowering PSA levels and/or helping to prevent prostate cancer. 

Foods that are good for prostate health include:

• Tomatoes or tomato juice

• Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage

• Fruit, including apples and bananas

• Spices, such as ginger root, turmeric, black pepper, and red chili pepper

• Pomegranate

• Soy

• Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as oily fish, nuts, seeds, and plant oils (like soybean oil)

• Lean meats like chicken and turkey

• Green tea

• Strawberries

• Blueberries

When you’re cutting back on foods you love, it can be helpful to focus on adding healthier alternatives. Even small daily changes to your diet can add up and support prostate health and reduce the risk of prostate cancer. 

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Written by:

Emily Hulse, MS, RD

Emily Hulse, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and wellness writer. Her writing has appeared in Forbes, Sports Illustrated, and MDLinx, among other online health publications.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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