Prostate Cancer, an extremely common disease, is the second most common cause of cancer death among American men. But recent studies reveal that a diet rich in the substance lycopene helps to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Lycopene is a potent antioxidant carotenoid that protects from long-term cellular damage caused by free radicals (highly reactive and unstable molecules) that are produced naturally within the body. Many researchers believe that this cellular damage may lead to the development of a number of chronic diseases, including prostate cancer.

Foods that are high in lycopene include:

• Tomatoes (fresh, cooked or canned)
• Tomato Paste
• Tomato juice
• Tomato Sauce
• Ketchup
• Salsa
• Apricots (raw or dried)
• Pink Grapefruit
• Guava
• Watermelon
• Papaya

In addition to increasing the amount of lycopene in your diet, doctors continue to stress that, beginning at age 50 (40 or earlier for African-Americans), men should get an annual prostate examination that includes a digital rectal exam and a blood test to measure the level of prostate-specific antigen. In prostate cancer, like other forms of cancer, the point at which the disease is detected can be the difference between life and death.