Page 46 - Urological Health

4) Avoid foods with a high amount of oxalate. Oxalate is a part of what usually makes up
calcium kidney stones. Some foods have very high oxalate content (spinach and
rhubarb). Avoid these. A list can be found at:
http://urology.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/oxalate-2007.pdf. Having
said this, low oxalate diets have not been found to reduce the risk of kidney stones.
5) Lower your intake of salt (or sodium). This has been shown to decrease the risk of
kidney stones.
6) Avoid foods that are high in sugar (sucrose and fructose).

7) Maintain a normal calcium intake (about 1000 mg per day, for most adults).
Interestingly, both high and low intakes of calcium are linked to stone forming. If you
need extra calcium in the form of a pill/supplement and form frequent kidney stones,
a kidney specialist would be able to help adjust the amount.

F. Cancer
There has been an explosion of research trying to identify dietary links with the risk of getting cancer.
About 35% of cancers may be prevented by choosing a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise.
Here is a list of diet recommendations for urology cancers. For more information, see the Canadian
Cancer Society website:
UNDER REVIEW
http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/Prevention/Nutrition%20and%20fitness.aspx?sc_lang=EN.
1) Prostate cancer

a. Meat: Cooked meats are high in chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs).
Barbecuing meat causes the most HCAs to form. There are both animal and human
studies that show a link that HCA’s may cause prostate cancer. Although unclear, a diet
high in meat, particularly well done meat, may increase your risk of prostate cancer.
b. Isoflavones: Examples of foods that have isoflavones are soybeans, lentils, chick peas,
kidney beans, and peanuts. Interest in these foods is due mainly to the high intake of
soy in Far Eastern countries where men have lower rates of prostate cancer. A number
of studies have been completed to address this. Currently, most research suggests that a
diet rich in isoflavones may protect against prostate cancer.
c. Vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables (for example, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel
sprouts) have a very important anti-cancer component called isothiocyanates. Studies,
although limited, suggest that they may play a protective role against prostate cancer.

d. Omega fats: Both omega-3 and omega-6 fats are important to get in your diet. Omega-3
fats are in oily fish such as salmon, trout, sardines, and tuna. Omega-6 fats are in eggs,
avocado, and vegetable oils. These omega fats have shown to play a protective role in
reducing prostate cancers in men. Even in men who have been diagnosed with prostate
cancer, these foods have been shown to help fight the cancer.
e. Tomatoes: Lycopenes are pigments that give the tomato its red colour. Although there
has been much excitement over the role of tomatoes and lycopenes in reducing the risk
of prostate cancer, further study is required.

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