Your diet can affect your PSA levels. Even if you have been told that you have developing problems with your prostate health, changing the foods you eat can lower your PSA levels. Your PSA (Prostate specific antigen) level is an indicator of your prostate health. Statistically, men with a higher PSA level have been shown more likely to develop problems with the prostate, including prostate cancer. While the PSA is not identified as a cause of issues of prostate health, it is a marker that is produced by the prostate and released into the bloodstream. Lowering your PSA level may not actually lower your risk of prostate health problems but it can’t hurt.
Foods to lower PSA include pomegranates, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, cauliflower, and broccoli. In addition to being foods that lower PSA, some of these foods have actually been shown to lower the chances of developing the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer. As an added health benefit, most of the foods that lower PSA also are effective at lowering cholesterol, which can improve heart health.
One study has shown that men who consume tomatoes and broccoli together show a statistically significant improvement at lowering the growth rate of prostate cancer tumors. Men who are concerned about overall prostate health would do well to combine these two foods as well as other foods that have been shown to have a similar effect on the PSA levels.
Remember that PSA is only a marker of Prostate health. Studies have not shown that lowering your PSA level necessarily can improve prostate health or prevent prostate cancer. Men who successfully lower the PSA level to the normal range may still develop problems, including cancer of the prostate but the chances are likely lessened. Regular examinations by your doctor are the best way to find and prevent prostate problems. Using a digital rectal exam, the doctor can find problems such as an enlarged prostate gland or tumors on the prostate. If your doctor suspects problems and your PSA is elevated, he will order more tests.
