Rung 1 · Unproven

Home-grown broccoli sprouts

Popular with men on surveillance, but never tested as a food.

PreventionYou can do thisUntested claim

What studies found

Sprouts are a concentrated food source of sulforaphane. No study has tested eating them on prostate cancer outcomes; the only human data come from capsule extracts.

The catch

Raw sprouts are a known food-poisoning risk. People with weakened immunity, including during chemotherapy, should avoid them raw.

What to do

Fine as a food if handled safely. Don't treat it as therapy.

Sources

Sulforaphane extract phase II trial, 2015

Rung 1 of 5, Unproven: Lab or animal data only, or never directly tested in people. How we score

To take it to your doctor, print this page.

Step by step

For the whole picture, from prevention and screening to treatment and life after, see the prostate cancer page.

Keep a healthy weightExcess body fat is the second-largest preventable cause of cancer.Rung 5 · EstablishedYou can do thisRung 5 · EstablishedPreventionYou can do this
CoffeeProbably lowers liver and endometrial cancer risk.Rung 4 · StrongYou can do thisRung 4 · StrongPreventionYou can do this
Eat a plant-forward patternRecommended by cancer bodies; linked to slower prostate cancer progression.Rung 4 · StrongYou can do thisRung 4 · StrongPreventionYou can do this
Limit processed and red meatProcessed meat is a known cause of colorectal cancer.Rung 4 · StrongYou can do thisRung 4 · StrongPreventionYou can do this
Cooked tomatoes (lycopene)Modestly lower prostate cancer risk in observational studies.Rung 3 · ModerateYou can do thisRung 3 · ModeratePreventionYou can do this

Every option we rated