Jamaican men have an extremely high risk of developing prostate cancer. We have the highest incidence in the world. But, we can protect ourselves with the most powerful medicine - the food we eat.

Here are some prostate cancer prevention foods:

GREEN TEA

Green tea may definitely help men at risk to avoid prostate cancer. Laboratory studies on animals found that substances in green tea called green tea catechins (GTC) inhibits prostate cancer cell growth.

Research also suggests that drinking green tea may help prevent the spread of pre-existent prostate cancer by halting the formation and spread of new tumour cells. In addition, GTC inhibits the growth of new blood vessels that would nourish the cancer. The green tea is not the ordinary 'tea bag' that Jamaicans refer to. I recommend a patented and tasty form of green tea called Herbal Tea Concentrate.

TOMATOES

In a Harvard University study involving nearly 48,000 men, researchers found eating tomato sauce a couple of times a week may help prevent prostate cancer. Lycopene (a red pigment) appears to be the active ingredient in tomatoes that is responsible for this effect. Italian researchers also found that a high level of lycopene in the bloodstream relates to a decreased risk of prostate cancer. Interestingly, cooking tomatoes improves the absorption of lycopene.

SOY FOODS

Soy also reduces the risk of prostate cancer. This includes soybeans, soy milk, soy shakes, fermented soy, miso and tofu.

Consuming one or more serving a day of high quality soy products can cut the risk of prostate cancer by 70 per cent. This compound, genistein, blocks an enzyme that destroys vitamin D in cancer cells. Blocking this enzyme elevates vitamin D levels and helps suppress the growth of cancer tumours. It is important to get both soy and vitamin D (from sunshine) because they work together to create a very powerful disease-prevention effect.

Furthermore, plant hormones (phytoestrogens) in soy also protect the hormone-sensitive prostate gland from cancer. Soy also contains high-quality proteins and is a great replacement for cancer-promoting meats. My ideal prostate cancer-prevention breakfast is a soy protein shake drink and a cup of real green tea.

GARLIC ONIONS AND SCALLIONS

A recent Chinese study found that a diet rich in garlic, onions, shallots, leeks and scallions may also reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The Chinese, with the lowest rate of prostate cancer in the world, use these ingredients as a staple in their cooking.

The researchers questioned 200 men with prostate cancer and 500 healthy men in Shanghai, on their eating habits. Results published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute were straightforward. Men who ate even small amounts of onions, garlic, scallions, shallots and leeks each day decreased their risk of prostate cancer by more than 33 per cent.

Additionally, those who ate two grams of garlic or more per day cut their risk of prostate cancer by more than 50 per cent, but eating even only one clove was beneficial. Scallions lowered the risk by 70 per cent and are most beneficial.

Prevention is better than cure and prevention becomes even more probable when men eat these foods.

You may email Dr Tony Vendryes at vendryes@mac.com or listen to An Ounce of Prevention on Power 106FM on Fridays at 8 p.m. The programme streams live on the Internet.