There is growing evidence that certain micronutrients, more specifically antioxidants, may help prevent some forms of cancer. It has also been shown that lypocene and other antioxidants reduce the risk of cancer. Antioxidants may help shield against cancer and heart disease by neutralizing harmful molecules known as oxygen free radicals. "This large prospective study provides further evidence that oxidative stress may be one of the important mechanisms for prostate cancer development and progression, and adequate intake of antioxidants, such as selenium, lycopene and vitamin E, may help prevent prostate cancer," said Dr Haojie Li, a researcher at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The potential importance of diverse antioxidants in prostate cancer development is further supported by recent results indicating decreased prostate cancer incidence among men with increased exposure to selenium and vitamin E supplements. More and more research shows that antioxidants in vegetables, particularly tomatoes and broccoli, can lower prostate cancer risk, while foods from animals may increase risk.

Vegetables improve blood flow the "secret ingredient" of a happy love life since a healthy vascular system is required to obtain and sustain an erection. Traditional Japanese and Chinese diets are rich in foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and seeds-rich sources of lignans-whereas the typical Western diet tends to be a poor source of lignan compounds. For example, a recent study published by the National Cancer Institute showed that men slash their risk of prostate cancer by up to 52% by regularly consuming cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli and cauliflower). Men who ate three or more servings of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage) per week had a 41 per cent lower risk of developing prostate cancer than did men who ate less than one serving a week.

One dietary supplement which seems to dramatically reduce prostate cancer risk is lycopene, especially found in diets heavy in cooked tomatoes. Lycopene is a phytochemical that is found in certain fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and grapefruits. Tomatoes also contain significant quantities of potassium, as well as some vitamin A and vitamin E. As in the previous study, the benefits appeared to come primarily from cooked products, rather than from raw tomatoes. Also, tomatoes figure prominently in a Mediterranean type diet, which includes plenty of fruits and vegetables and olive oil, and lesser amounts of meats and animal fat. These findings suggest that intake of lycopene or other compounds in tomatoes may reduce prostate cancer risk, but other measured carotenoids are unrelated to risk.

Some scientists believe that rates of cancer in the modern world are largely tied to the drastic imbalances in our diets between Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids. Researchers at the Christie Hospital in Manchester found evidence for this effect in laboratory tests, where they showed that omega-3 fats can inhibit invasion by prostate cancer cells, potentially reducing the threat of metastasis. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in salmon and other fatty fish, cold-water fish such as tuna, trout, striped bass, sardines, and herring, and are available in supplement capsules. Omega-3 enriched eggs from hens fed rations containing flaxseed are also very popular. Omega-6 fatty acids are concentrated in corn, sunflower and most oils in the processed foods we eat.

You can't prevent prostate cancer just by taking vitamins or supplements, but growing evidence says changing your diet and behavior could lower your risk. Research has shown that total intake (diet and supplement) of 200 mg/day can reduce your prostate cancer risk. Although that is a lot of green tea, there are supplements that seem to offer the same protective effect. Saw Palmetto is a supplement that has been proven to reduce the effects of benign prostate hyperplasia, and possibly the risk of prostate cancer.

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