Download Nutrition, Vitamin, and Supplement Guide

IMPORTANT TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND
• Always read nutrition labels—they can help you:
- Control calories
- Make healthy food choices
• Be aware of your overall calorie intake
- Watch calories in addition to fat, protein, and sugar
- Eating smaller portions is the first step
• Eat foods that contain good fats—polyunsaturated and
monounsaturated fats
- Good fats are not only heart healthy, but they may be prostate
healthy, too
- Good fat and protein sources may help reduce your appetite
•Consume several servings of fruits (4 servings) and
vegetables (3–4 servings) every day1
- Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables—they’re all healthy,
regardless of color
- Limit fruit and vegetable juices, which can be high in calories
•Eat fish at least twice every week2
- Fish is not only heart healthy, but it may be prostate healthy, too
- Eat baked or broiled fish—try to stay away from fried fish
• Use healthy cooking oils—but in moderation
-Some healthy oils are olive, soybean, canola, and safflower oils
-Watch how much you use—each tablespoon of any oil has
about 120 calories
• Consume soy, seeds, and nuts as part of your regular diet
- Some healthy seeds are flaxseed, sesame seeds, and
sunflower seeds
-Some healthy nuts are almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews,
and pecans
-Nuts are low in saturated (bad) fat, high in some vitamins and
monounsaturated (good) fat, and may contain compounds
associated with prostate health
-Remember the calories, though—a serving of seeds or nuts is
1 ounce, or a quarter cup
Nutrition, Vitamin,
and Supplement Guide
• Eat 20–30 grams of fiber every day
-High-fiber foods include beans, fruits, vegetables, bran, whole
grains, and oats, to name just a few
-When you increase your fiber intake, also increase your
water intake
-Try to get your fiber from healthy foods rather than from
supplements
• Reduce your sodium (salt) intake
-The American Heart Association says you should eat less than
1500 mg of sodium each day3
-Processed foods contain high amounts of sodium
-Don’t be fooled by products marked “lower sodium”—read the
nutrition labels
NUTRITION TIPS
When it comes to following a healthy
nutrition plan, there’s a lot to know.
REFERENCES
1. American Heart Association. Suggested servings from each food group. http://www.heart.
org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Suggested-Servingsfrom-Each-Food-Group_UCM_318186_Article.jsp. Accessed November, 28, 2011.
2. American Heart Association. Fish and omega-3 fatty acids. http://www.heart.org/
HEARTORG/General/Fish-and-Omega-3-Fatty-Acids_UCM_303248_Article.jsp.
Accessed November 28, 2011.
3. American Heart Association. Frequently asked questions about sodium. http://www.heart.
org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Frequently-AskedQuestions-About-Sodium_UCM_306840_Article.jsp. Accessed November 28, 2011.
For more information, visit PROSTATE.COM.
©2013 AbbVie Inc. North Chicago, IL 60064
1259786-1356205 June 2013
Here are a few tips to help you eat a healthy diet.
These tips are general and do not provide all the
information you need to form an individualized
nutrition plan. Talk to your doctor to create your
personalized nutrition plan.
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
VITAMIN/SUPPLEMENT WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Taking certain vitamins or supplements can help improve your
health. But not all of them are good for men with prostate cancer.
Some vitamins and dietary supplements of particular interest to
men with prostate cancer are discussed in the table below. It’s
very important to discuss any product with your doctor before
you start taking it. Use this table to discuss vitamins and
supplements with your doctor and check the box to the right
of any product that your doctor says you should take.
This information is adapted from Promoting Wellness for Prostate
Cancer Patients, 3rd edition, by Mark Moyad, MD, MPH (see pages
37–59 for more information on supplements).
VITAMIN/SUPPLEMENT WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Calcium supplements
Multivitamins
Vitamin D
• Generally, men need 1000–
1200 mg of calcium daily
•Consider supplements if you
have certain bone-health
concerns or are not absorbing
enough calcium from your diet
•Tests can help determine your
individual calcium needs
•Take a women’s multivitamin
without iron or a children’s
multivitamin several times per
week—no more than 1 per day
•It is possible that high
multivitamin doses may
feed prostate tumors
•See next panel for
more information
•Normal blood levels of
vitamin D are necessary
to maintain bone health
•Try to get more by eating
foods fortified with vitamin D
and fish or fish oil
•A blood test can determine
whether you need more
vitamin D and should consider
a supplement
Vitamin C
•Can improve immune health
at moderate doses of about
500 mg per day
American ginseng
(Panax quinquefolius)
• Shown to help some patients
reduce fatigue and improve
energy levels during cancer
treatment
• Should not be used during
localized prostate cancer
treatment because it may
have blood-thinning effects
Selenium
TAKE
Korean red ginseng
(Panax ginseng)
and maca
Zinc
B-complex vitamins
Additional supplements
recommended by
your doctor:
TAKE
MULTIVITAMINS: HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
Less is more when it comes to multivitamins. Use the table below
to determine whether a multivitamin contains too much or too little
of key ingredients. Write in how much of each ingredient is in your
multivitamin to help ensure you’re getting the right amount. Make sure
the amounts in your multivitamin do not exceed the maximum daily
dosage, and discuss any changes in your dosage with your doctor.
VITAMIN/MINERAL/
NUTRIENT
MAXIMUM DAILY
DOSAGE NEEDED
•Tests can determine if you
need more selenium
•Try to get more from food
sources first
•If food sources aren’t
providing enough, consider
a low-dose multivitamin
•Do not take individual
selenium supplements
Vitamin A
2500–5000 IU
Vitamin C
60–120 mg
Vitamin D
At least 400–800 IU
(10–20 mcg)
Vitamin E
15–30 IU
Vitamin K
20–80 mcg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
1–1.5 mcg
• Has helped some men
increase sexual health
(erectile function and libido)
•Serious quality-control issues
exist—find a reputable brand
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
1–2 mcg
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
20 mg
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
2 mg
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
6 mcg
•Do not take individual zinc
supplements—get it in
a multivitamin
•High-dose zinc has been linked
to some negative health effects,
including an increased risk of
aggressive prostate cancer
Folic acid
400 mcg
Biotin
30–150 mcg
Pantothenic acid
10 mg
Calcium
At least 200–500 mg
Iodine
150 mcg
•Not recommended
•May help prostate cancer
tumors grow in some men
•May contribute to heart
disease at high doses
Magnesium
50–100 mg
Zinc
10–15 mg
Selenium
20–100 mcg
Copper
2 mg
Manganese
2 mg
Molybdenum
80 mcg
AMOUNT IN
YOUR
MULTIVITAMIN