Has anyone come across research that speaks to what is the best diet strategy in terms of macros? I just finished my last radiation treatment! However, I will still be on ADT/Lupron for another 4 months. So it’s time to buckle up and get back to a cancer-preventive diet along with my current exercise program.
Using MyFitnessPal app, I have set up these target macros: 45% carbs, 35% fat, and 20% protein, based on a minimum caloric intake for my weight. Interestingly, I came across a study which tested a low carb diet of 20% for cancer patients. Interestingly, the app says the micronutrients need to equal to 100%.
Does anyone have any words of wisdom as to the proper % balances between the three from a cancer prevention perspective?
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All I can say is eat a balanced diet. Something like the Mediterranean diet. Fresh fruits, vegetables and protein. Stay away from processed foods as much as possible. I know there are people on here that tout you should eat X and avoid Y. Testosterone is what feeds prostate cancer; hence why almost everyone is on ADT. Just my input. Read my bio. I’m an old timer with this bitch of a disease.
I agree with what is written below. High protein. Especially fish high in fatty acids/Omega 3. I have read that farmed salmon does not contain the same nutritional value as wild salmon.
And tell me WHY I should listen to YOU? No bio, no posts, no history….No PSA reported?? What credentials do you hold that would convince ME that when you state, “I don’t agree that testosterone feeds prostate cancer”??? You have been in this group just over one year; I have had this disease 19 years. Please provide ANYTHING that informs us as to whom you are and even IF you have prostate cancer. Right now ANYTHING coming from this username, FrostGyre, I shall consider wrong/biased information.
My diet looks about opposite to yours. tons of protein, very few carbs and don't monitor fats. There are so many ways to eat but not sure if any contribute to cancer or cancer fighting. Every body is different and acts accordingly
mrscruffy…great job on keeping carbs low. I want to keep lowering the daily amount of carbs I consume. However, I am exercising 6 days a week including running around 20 miles a week. I’m also new at consciously monitoring my carb intake so I may also be a creature of habit used to higher carbs between breakfast and lunch. Not to mention my culture upbringing where rice and fried bananas were a staple.
Today I already reached 100g of carbs but yesterday I had a long run of 10 miles getting ready for a half marathon in a few weeks. Currently my daily calorie target is no less than 1,875 which is much higher than yours. I will keep working on lowering my carbs except for when I have a hard workout or race. I feel compelled to do this to fight the PC monster.
I keep hearing my inner critic telling me to ignore my fears about a high carb diet messing up the recently completed radiation treatments and the remaining 3 months on ADT. I think I am doing the right thing by reducing carbs at this stage to slow down recurrence especially since had RP six years ago. I’m sure others here can relate. By the way getting carbs from fruits like you are doing is not a bad idea in moderation, and it is something I can do to maybe reduce carbs in other areas.
Sounds like a good plan. I lift weights 6 days a week and just started cardio in afternoons. There have been times where I feel power is low so I have a few carbs and get back to it. Oddly enough I was at a Diamondbacks game couple weeks ago and had a hotdog for the first time in probably 5 years. I forgot bread is so darn good.
How do you do it with weights 6 days a week? Have you heard that is the best form of attack for PC? You don’t feel you need a day off in between for lifting or is it because you work different muscles and different days?
Regarding carbs, I guess that’s part of the beauty of restricting them and other things that could be bad for us. But there’s a silver lining in that when we do indulge like you did with the bread/hot dog or in my case often I have to have eggs with the whole breakfast deal. It is those moments that become amazing and taste much better than if you were having it every day.
I lift 6 days a week by doing what is often referred to as a "bro workout" my workouts are an hour in length and isolate a different muscle or sets of muscles therefor giving me plenty of recovery time. My trainer suggested it to me and limits my workouts to 4 different sets a day as I have mets on my spine and she is concerned with injury. Then in afternoon I do 20 minutes of cardio. Easily manageable and sometimes entire body needs rest so i take an extra day off now and then. As far as cancer is concerned my MO says working out is a great way to aid in cancer treatment. Not sure if it is true or not, my goal is control weight, build muscle and stay healthy as I age. So far mission accomplished
I just started tracking but in the last few days it looks like around 200 grams of carbs and about 60-90g for protein per day. I weigh around 175 but would like to lose a few pounds to feel more healthy and comfortable.
I eat a diet that keeps me regular. Everyone has a different gut. My gut loves plants, so I eat lots of raw vegtables and fresh ginger
I am going to leave two comments and you can take them or leave them.
Just finished a YouTube video by Dr Geo on diets and prostate cancer. He practices at one of the major cancer centers in NYC. Might interest you.
Second, I am almost 80 and go to the gym and do aerobics exercise 6 and 7 days a week respectively. After doing some research I have incorporation a new technique into my resistance routine.
I am now doing a farmers walk with two 25 pound drum bells for about a 1/4 mile each day.
You might want to look into this for building resistance to osteoporosis, gripe strength, balance, core, legs etc. I found it to be a really good overall exercise and easy to do.
Thank you. I just did a quick lookup on YT and Dr. Geo has several out there on diets and PCa. I will check them out. Good tip on the use of weights while walking. Congratulations on your workout routine.
His input is at a much different level than your input below. His viewpoint is an overview of the different diets in relationship to our cancer and their impacts and potential.
Aimed at the general cancer population like myself that is clueless and just starting this journey. Based on your input it perhaps will be at to high a overview to be useful to you with your level of knowledge regarding diets, etc.
My dad had calls with him several times during his fight and he emphasized staying strong, resistance training, eating protein and a LOT of plants, and having a positive mindset. He LOVED my dad!
I recommend that ALL men here follow his newsletter, and learn from his teachings on living a long strong life > drgeo.com/about-dr-geo/
My husband and I own a small kettlebell gym in Michigan (Michigan Kettlebells) and my parents worked out there regularly until the last year of my dads life. At that point, he did bodyweight exercises at home.
Preventing muscle loss is key in aging with, or without disease.
Thanks. Boy to have a friend like that must be amazing. I agree he is brilliant and makes things truly easy to understand. He comes across with wit, passion for what he does.
He became a friend when I started following him and reaching out on FB and IG. Then I had my dad do a call with him, and he was very helpful. Expensive calls, but a LOT to take action on, and he was very inspiring to my dad, and Dr. Geo said that my dad was HIS role model.
If you eat too much protein it puts a load on your kidneys. At this age at lot of us spend the last few years on dialysis.
Eat too much simple carbs, it starts push you into diabetes territory. A lot of us at this age are prediabetic or diabetic. All the satisfying carbs are simple carbs. Like sugar and sweets.
A lot of bad oils out there. Most have lots of Arachidonic acid. If you don't have prostate cancer it's not a big issue, but they are killers otherwise.
Arachidonic acid (AA) has been shown to significantly influence prostate cancer (PCa) progression:
Stimulation of Cell Growth: AA stimulates the growth of prostate cancer cells through the production of metabolites via 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathways.
Metastasis and Inflammation: Diets high in omega-6 fatty acids, including AA, are associated with increased risk of bone metastasis in PCa. AA promotes the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, enhancing cancer cell survival and proliferation.
Inhibition of Apoptosis: AA suppresses ceramide-induced cell death in prostate cancer cells, contributing to tumor aggressiveness.
For oil you really need to limit yourself to real non- counterfeit olive oil (best to stick to California certified oil), avocado oil, hazelnut, and almond.
The very worst oil for us folks is canola oil.
Taking Omega 3 oil can counterbalance some of the bad oil..
There are some good meal prep places that ship nice organic balanced meals that can do all the balancing for you.
Lots of info there, you have great knowledge. However there are a few things I don’t understand, over my head. One thing, I lift three times a week along with some cardio. Trying to maintain muscle mass as I’ve been on ADT for a decade. Been drinking protein isolate before and after my workout. Is that bad for the kidneys? Also no matter how much lifting and cardio I do weight gain has been steady over the yrs now at 265 whereas I was 200 when I started.
are you doing HIIT, as that is crucial to rev your metabolism and maybe immune system. I do sprint swimming 3x per week, and my weigh is at 170 on a 5’11” frame. Before I knew better, maybe 4-5 years ago, my weight crept up to 220. I feel good and expect to stay around 170, by continuing this program
Unfortunately you may not at this time be able to do HIIT as recommended below. When I started this journey over two years ago I could not handle that level of exercise.
So I started walking 5 minutes a day then 15 minutes a day. Over the next two months I got to 30 minutes and then 40 minutes and then 50 and then a hour. Just yesterday I did 17567 steps in two sessions.
I do 30 minutes of light weight resistance training six days a week. Start light. I do all muscle groups each day. I do not lift to muscle struggling. For me that is toning with stopping muscle loss. I have slowly added weights and built visible muscles.
Over the last year I have not lost any weight but have put on muscle, reduced my waist by 3”. I eat three light meals a day and use a SALAD plate to control portion size. I also eat fruit, nuts and carrots for snacks. Every Sunday I have a dessert - ice cream, cake, etc. I only drink water and tea. No alcohol, sodas or fruit drinks.
Now for the really good news this week I am now jogging 10 minutes two days a week in addition to my walking. It is kind of a walk/jog. My goal is by this time next year to be able to jog a mile. Oh by the way I have totally got rid of my lower back pain.
Set some small goals, do it everyday and share your little successes with family and friends or this group. It may be hard at first but do not give in and stop. Sharing keeps you motivated and accountable. Keep a log each day and track what you are doing. I no longer do this because my program has become a habit but each time I set a new goal I keep track to see how I am doing towards achieving it. In my case what gets measured gets done.
I am almost 80 and I am within 5 pounds of my college weight. I still have a small fat roll but hopefully that will go away. That is the hardest for me to lose. My long term goal is to have a full set of abs by the time I am 85.
Wish you the best and do yourself a favor and take a picture without a shirt on and do the same at a year. Pictures do not lie. Wish I had done that when I started.
I am married 55 years today and we both hope to make 60 in reasonable shape and see my granddaughter graduate med school. Long term goals with daily, weekly and monthly goals keep you moving forward.
I assume you are asking the question to see if I was able to this routine while on ADT.
I was when I started this process almost 2 years ago. I also was taking radiation treatments. It was not easy but I forced myself to do it. I went to the gym every day after the radiation treatments. Honestly I felt it helped with the SE of both.
I will be going back on ADT - first and second generation ADT in the near future. This is because of recurrence. At least for now my plan is intermittent ADT.
I’m on a plant based diet with some fish and daily exercise. No fat, except a bit of olive oil, but mainly nuts & seeds. No alcohol, no added sugar. Pls google Dr. Fuhrman, for me he’s one of the very best.
Excellent info except for the alcohol. I'm a retired food scientist (USDA/FSIS) wine is an excellent probiotic . By the way I'm an 84yr old 20 survivor . I write an online column in the Albemarle TradeWinds magazine titled "What's in your diet".
Wine is good, if it would not have alcohol. Alcohol is a neurotoxin, already in small quantities. So I’ve decided to stay away from alcohol after diagnosis.
The brain is the fattiest organ in the body. It's a biological supercomputer; and the perfect fuel for it is ketones (made from fat). Avoiding fat is leaving yourself open to brain diseases. Cholesterol protects the brain from disease. The liver makes cholesterol --this is why high cholesterol being bad is nonsense--but it can only produce so much.
Plants, nuts, seeds, fruit are survival foods. Meat is what we need to thrive.
As a gym owner, and certified in Sports Nutrition, AND with a father that battle PC for 18 years and lives a VERY STRONG and full life...
We never actually measured exact macros.
Party due to his taste buds for the last 3 years.
But mainly to keep him getting in enough protein to slow the muscle sparing that comes with age and less activity.
He weighed 148. So we tried to keep his protein around 100+ Grams daily based on his lean body weight. This was done with eggs, meat, beans, protein shakes and drinks.
We tried to have him consume as much fruit and veggies as he could tolerate. Even putting greens in his smoothies to get in the detoxifying phytochemicals as often as possible.
And kept fats in the form of snacking on nuts, almond butters, olive oil and avocados. Plus fish when he was in the mood.
I have found that although some people "need" to count numbers. It is not necessary and can add added stress to what is already a stressful situation for many.
If you count anything. Try to get in at least one gram of protein per lean pound of bodyweight spread out daily.
More if you are active, or feel that you are losing muscle.
And, the most important factor of all is to do bodyweight movements or strength training if possible to keep strong, and help with your mindset.
Sending love and strength to you all,
Dawn
*here's me with my amazing and life-loving dad at his 88th birthday with my mom who is 86
I agree about 1 g per pound protein per day. As we age our bodies don't use protein as well as they used to. I've shifted to more hypertrophy-based weight-lifting over the past year and gained about 25 lbs with this approach (a little fat, but mostly muscle in accordance with increase in barbell weight). Protein shakes are a necessity. I avoid processed foods most of the time. I'll shift back to a strength focused program in the fall.
My father died of metastatic prostate cancer when he was 86. He had been active, but just walking and doing stuff on and around the house. He was skinny and frail at the time after having curbed his appetite for many years because he was afraid of his heart (previous heart attack years before). He definitely was not getting enough protein in his diet, probably not much more than 50 g most days. The year before he died they could have treated him for the cancer (I wasn't told with what, perhaps chemo), but he decided to just ride it out in palliative care (died at home surrounded by family), having already been weakened by a hernia operation.
Thanks for sharing the story about your father. I lost my father last year. It’s a very tough thing. On a lighter note, I love the sound of increased muscles on your part. Hypertrophy-based weight-lifting sounds good. What was your approach as far as increasing weights? It sounds like you’re saying that is what contributed for the most part to the increase in muscle and weight? The increasing muscle is certainly a protector against cancer growth so congratulations. What kind of shake are you comfortable with? Most of the ones I read about have some ingredient that could contribute to cancer.
I have a set of dumbbells but once I was diagnosed as metastatic I finally went out and bought an Olympic-sized barbell and slowly accumulated weights for the bar (early 2023). First 9 months I focused on strength (e.g. ~ 4 sets of 5 reps squats, deadlifts, etc). I gained strength, but my body weight didn't changed much. Last 10 months switched to higher reps (~4 sets x 10 reps + warm up sets) and my body weight rose fairly linearly over time as I slowly increased barbell weight. I chose 10 reps because it's an easy target, though some folks go to 12 or 15 with lighter weights.
My favorite exercise is the barbell squat because it works so much of the body.
The best thing I did, and which I highly recommend, was buying fractional weight plates (I got 0.5 pound plates though you can go lower) which allow for incremental weight increases. When I was doing my strength program I was starting to plateau and I found that adding 5 extra pounds (from the typical 2.5 lb smallest plates) was too much weight increase at once.
I make my own shakes using whey protein powder (I prefer unflavored, though it is more expensive) occasionally mixed with pea protein if it is on sale. I recently bought 6 lbs of unflavored pea protein which was cheaper than whey, though the taste is worse (which is why they often sugar-up pea protein mixes). Water/milk/yogurt + whey + blueberries is usually all I need. I like to blend in frozen berries blends too. I aim for about 30-35 g of protein in the morning, sometimes more.
Longtimerunning…thanks. You are inspiring me to push the envelope with my weights. Let’s do it! How do you feel about the stats that say dairy - milk, yogurt is not good for cancer prevention? How safe is whey in your opinion?
I researched a lot of literature (journal articles) regarding the food-prostate cancer relationship before I was found to be metastatic. In some articles whole milk is good and in others it is bad, but these are association studies which have their limitations.
I'm not worried about dairy, more worried about heavy metals in my dark chocolate (I eat or ate a ton of dark chocolate before consumer reports came out and said most dark chocolate has way too much lead, cadmium, etc.) I think whey is fine as long as there are not too many fillers. I'm not convinced things like sucralose in modest amounts is terrible, but I try and avoid it anyway. Stevia seems to be a better choice for a sweetener, but I prefer whey with no sweeteners (which is more expensive!)
Pea, soy, and other vegan proteins are just likely to be contaminated as whey (maybe more) by heavy metals etc. in the soil (organic or not). It's really hard to avoid completely and even with so-called 3rd party testing we can't be sure (it's like "who's fact checking the fact checkers?)
Food intake fuels our bodies, and what our bodies need from fuel depends on a lot of factors including whether and how we exercise, other medical conditions, etc etc. For those struggling with weight gain, as I did while on ADT, I have no magic answers.
You get some deep dives into the nutrition with such a question, but of course you asked for it. A diverse diet of fresh food fairly low in carbohydrates is fine. Don’t forget to make sure it’s not an overly regimented change though , or you’ll be unlikely to stay with it.
Not mentioned in the comments but very important: ADT slows metabolism significantly, so eating less when on it is at least as important as what you’re eating. Eat less.
The exercise is more important than any of it. Great luck to you!
You are right about eating less. I have a few more months to go on ADT. I find myself paying closer attention to eating to support my exercise routines and that is keeping me going besides the good pointers from this group. I hope exercise is working for you.
To loco- regional abdominal lymph nodes. Treated with 10 days of high-dose SBRT. Prostatectomy in 1996. Also have Small-tissue Sarcoma - three surgeries.
Oh what a question, gauranteed to get a multitude of different answers.
From what I've read, I don't think you should be looking to some ideal ratio between carb/proteins/fats. For cancer, I think you should be mindful of deuterium. I believe you should be trying to keep this low. It's not just diet, but exercise, sweating, sunlight are also ways that your body removes it.
But for the diet specifically, grass fed saturated fats are the lowest. If you're plant based, you should consider coconut oil, olive oil and avacodos for the fats but greens are particularly low.
High in deuterium are sugars and non green carbs.
Try not to drink lots of tap water. That is also high in deuterium. Your mitochrondria produce the required water for your body. This is why animals can exist in dessert areas with little water. Saturated fat is a very good source because it creates roughly twice as much water than carb based.
You can purchase deuterium depleted water but its expensive and you shouldn't really have to.
Lose the carbs completely. There's no such thing as an essential carbohydrate; only essential amino acids and fatty acids. The body can make the small amounts of carbs it needs (for parts of the brain and red blood cells) from fat and protein.
Ketones (made from fat) are the perfect clean fuel for the supercomputer atop our shoulders; and the heart.
Contrary to popular belief: testosterone does not feed prostate cancer; vegetables and fruits and grains are not healthy.
The simplest solution is usually the best: Eat meat (ideally beef), animal fat; drink water. High cholesterol is good. Cholesterol protects the brain from disease. Aim for an absolute minimum of 100g of protein per day. Meat heals. Vegetables, grains, fruit do not; they cause inflammation.
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