Prostate Cancer

Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Survivors

Practical recommendations for prostate cancer survivorship and overall health¹

Adopt a more plant-based eating pattern

Choose these foods for your health

  • Fruits and vegetables: at least 5 servings daily²,³
  • Legumes: beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, soybeans³
  • Mostly whole grains: look for “whole” or “sprouted”⁴
  • Healthy fats: olive, canola or avocado oil; avocados; fish
  • Prostate-specific diet scores suggest cooked tomatoes,⁵ fish, and limited wine consumption⁶

Limit or avoid

  • Red and processed meat; high-fat dairy products (e.g., butter)
  • Refined grains; sugary drinks (soda, juices, sports drinks); sweets and desserts (added sugar)
  • Prostate-specific diet scores suggest limiting processed meat and saturated fat, including avoiding whole milk

General lifestyle guidance

  • Maintain a healthy weight; aim for BMI <escape><</escape>25 kg/m².⁷
  • At least 150 minutes/week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or 75 minutes/week vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise, or a combination.⁸
  • Resistance exercise 2–3 nonconsecutive days/week, working all major muscle groups. Alternatively, spread across more days (e.g., 4), alternating upper and lower body, with recovery between sessions.⁸

Footnotes

  1.  “Better overall health” is interpreted as lower risk of all-cause mortality.
  2. WHO serving: ½ cup fruit/vegetable; 1 cup raw leafy greens; ¼ cup dried fruit/vegetable; or 6 oz vegetable juice.
  3. Adequate quantities help achieve recommended fiber intake of 30 g/day (WCRF/AICR).
  4. Whole-grain needs vary by body size and activity level.
  5. Lycopene is more bioavailable in cooked tomatoes, particularly when prepared with oil.
  6. The AHA does not recommend starting wine or other alcohol for health benefits; this item reflects the 2021 Prostate Cancer Behavior Score.
  7. BMI can misclassify highly muscular people as overweight.
  8. Based on 2018 US HHS Physical Activity Guidelines or ACSM exercise guidance.

Source

Allen R, Liu V, Chan JM, Graff RE, Stampfer MJ, Aronson WJ, Kenfield SA. Effect of Postdiagnosis Diet and Lifestyle on Clinical Outcomes in Prostate Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review. J Urol. 2026;215(4):376–395.