No credible research has specifically found that eating bananas lowers your risk of prostate cancer, but they can still be a good food to include in your diet to support your overall health.
Bananas are one of the most popular fruits consumed worldwide.
These fruits contain many nutrients that may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. They also support heart health, immunity, and blood sugar management.
Read on to learn more about the link between bananas and prostate cancer.
The use of binary terms such as “male” and “female” or “men” and “women” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.
Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables can potentially help you maintain your overall health and prevent disease.
Although there are many reasons to include bananas in your diet, no studies have found a strong link between banana consumption and lower prostate cancer risk.
In a
However, the researchers noted in their conclusion that it’s unclear whether eating more fruit decreased the risk of prostate cancer or whether other variables caused the link.
In the study, the researchers divided fruit into the following subtypes:
- citrus fruits
- apples and pears
- bananas
Of these three types, only citrus was associated with a significant trend toward lower prostate cancer rates.
There’s no conclusive evidence that consuming bananas has a direct benefit for prostate cancer treatment.
That said, bananas contain many nutrients that can help support overall health during treatments, such as radiation therapy or hormone therapy.
One medium-sized banana (115 grams [g]) contains about
Prostate cancer can cause many symptoms,
- frequent or painful urination
- trouble emptying your bladder completely
- painful ejaculation
- weak urine stream
Yet there’s no evidence that consuming bananas can help manage these symptoms.
Two small studies have found some theoretical evidence that banana products may reduce symptoms caused by a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as an enlarged prostate. Yet these are very early studies, and much more research is needed before drawing conclusions.
In the first
The second study from 2009 was conducted in mice. Researchers suggest that methanol extract from banana peels may help reduce enlarged prostate symptoms. Yet this research is older and was performed in animals, so more recent studies in humans are needed.
Researchers are still examining the relationship between diet and prostate cancer risk. A
Here’s a summary of some of the nutrients that may play a role in reducing the risk of prostate cancer:
| Nutrient | Example foods |
|---|---|
| selenium | • pork • beef • fish • shellfish • eggs • Brazil nuts |
| zinc | • oysters • beef • pumpkin seeds |
| vitamin E | • sunflower seeds • wheat germ oil • almonds • hazelnuts • salmon |
| isoflavones | • soy products |
| catechins | • green tea |
| resveratrol | • nuts • grapes • apples • red fruits • black olives • red rice • capers |
| lycopene | • tomato and tomato products • pink grapefruit • papaya • goji berries • melon |
| isothiocyanates | • Brussels sprouts • broccoli • bok choy • turnips • cauliflower |
A
These two diets encourage a high intake of fruits and vegetables, fish, and seafood, and minimal consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Some foods that may increase your risk of prostate cancer are eaten too much in a typical Western diet. These include:
- sugary sodas and juices
- foods with added sugar
- alcohol
- white flour
- highly processed foods
Some
Some studies have also found a link between prostate cancer and dairy consumption, but other studies haven’t found a connection. Due to this, the relationship remains
Bananas are filled with nutrients that can help support your overall health. There’s no evidence that they reduce your risk of prostate cancer, but they’re unlikely to put you at a higher risk, and they have many other benefits.
Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, fish, and seafood and low in processed foods seems to be associated with lower rates of prostate cancer. These foods are often part of the Mediterranean diet.
If you’re living with prostate cancer and are unsure about the types of foods you should eat and limit, connect with a doctor or registered dietitian. They could help develop a nutrition plan for you that’s tasty and easy to follow.