Benefits of Fish for the Prostate

Fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids are linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer in menthree fish... image by Saskia Massink from Fotolia.com

Although fish has many beneficial factors, such as preventing heart disease, lowering blood pressure, and as the University of Sydney suggests, alleviating symptoms of depression, eating fish also benefits the prostate in various ways. Men who consume fish several times a week have a lower risk for prostate cancer than those who don't include fish on the menu.

Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids are the healthy fats our bodies don't produce in significant amounts, but concentrated levels exist in fish. As research indicates from the University of California, San Francisco, Omega-3, found in fatty fish, is linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer in men, and reduces the risk of inflammation, which may contribute to cancer. Supplements and fish oil can also reduce the risk of cancer.

Omega-3 is found in walnuts and canola oil, but the highest concentrated amount is found in dark, fatty fish such as salmon or tuna. Omega-3 acids work to reduce inflammation in the body, which may be the cause for certain types of cancer, including prostate cancer, according to the University of Maryland. High levels of Omega-6 fatty acids are found in meats, so by maintaining a low-fat diet and balancing both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, men run a lower risk of developing prostate cancer.

Salmon with lemon image by Lev Aleshin from Fotolia.com

A wide array of fish produce high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon and tuna are full of fatty acids containing Omega-3. Other fish that are recommended for possibly lowering the risk of prostate cancer include herring, mackerel, trout and sardines.