Cutting down on fat — particularly saturated fat — may help more than just the waistline. A recent analysis in Nutrition Review looked at 25 previous studies on the relationship between a man's diet and the risk of prostate cancer. Men who stuck to a high-fiber, low-fat diet had a better chance of survival after being diagnosed with the cancer. Fruits and cruciferous vegetables were among the foods found to be most beneficial. In contrast, cancer was three times more likely to progress in those with the highest saturated-fat intakes.
“From a public health point of view, these findings suggest simple, doable dietary changes,” says Susan Berkow, PhD, CNS, of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and lead author of the review. “Guys should include broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts in their diets as much as possible.” Because the review also showed a link between postdiagnosis longevity and lycopene — a phytonutrient found in tomatoes — feel free to pile the organic marinara on the brown-rice pasta.
— C.M.