Response to reader

• Will fruits affect my husband's prostate cancer?

Dear Ms Brown,

My husband has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. From our readings, we note that cancer cells love and thrive on sugar. We eat a lot of fruits as we know that fruits are good nutritionally. Is the fructose from the many and varied fruits we consume dangerous for his health? Is there a specific amount he should consume daily? Additionally, please advise if he blends the vegetables and make a drink instead of eating them raw will he get the same nutritional value? He hates to eat certain vegetables.

Dear reader,

I have found no evidence indicating that eating lots of fruits and vegetables is dangerous to your husband's health as he manages prostate cancer. You mentioned fructose, a predominant sugar in fruits, as being a possible culprit by causing the cancer to grow. There are many listings on the Internet suggesting that high-fructose corn syrup can cause prostate cancer cells to multiply rapidly; these are not backed by research. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is promoted as a preventative measure against cancers, and to bolster health during the management of cancers.

There are a few instances during cancer treatment, however, when you may be told by your oncologist to avoid large amounts of fruits. Some even go as far as saying you should avoid all fruits during treatment. Some of the chemotherapeutic agents used to treat cancers produce a large amount of chemicals called free radicals, which are used in the therapy to damage parts of cells preventing them from multiplying.

Free radicals

The free radicals produced by these agents also damage healthy cells. Free radicals are also produced daily in the body from conditions such as inflammation, exercise, fatty diets, ingestion of alcohol and so on. Fruits are rich in compounds called antioxidants, and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can provide enough antioxidants to reduce the negative effects of the free radicals.

The effectiveness of the free radicals produced by chemotherapy agents to damage cancer cells can be reduced by the use of antioxidants. There is a concern when persons go on mega doses of antioxidant supplements and concentrated juice extractions during this process of treatment. Although healthy cells will be bolstered, cancer cells will also be protected.

Antioxidant therapy

As a dietitian, fruits and vegetables as a part of a normal diet are recommended during treatment. The problem is with large concentrated doses from extraction of juices and tablets. It is best to have this sort of antioxidant therapy from fruits and vegetables before treatment courses begin or even before the cancer, and/or after treatment is completed.

You may be told to avoid raw vegetables and fruits during or after your treatment, if and when the white blood cell count is low and the chance of an infection increases. It is likely that raw foods may contain moulds and other micro-organisms that may cause an infection in your immune-compromised state.

I am not sure what stage of treatment your husband is in, but fruits and vegetables can play a positive role in his management and recovery.

Rosalee M. Brown is a registered dietitian/nutritionist who operates Integrated Nutrition and Health Services; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.