all types of prostate cancer, including the more aggressive form.
Are you a lover of all dairy products? Here’s what the research has to say about yogurt and cheese lovers.
The increase in risk for prostate cancer was directly tied to low- or regular-fat milk, not yogurt or cheese, and this increase plateaued after about two-thirds of a cup of milk each day, Fraser says.
The study did have its share of limitations. Asking people to recall what they ate isn’t always the most reliable method of gathering information.
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Should you stop drinking milk?
While this may be reasonably alarming, outside experts aren’t ready to say that milk increases prostate cancer risk.
It’s too early to draw that conclusion, says Dr. Otis Brawley, a professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
“We do know that obesity, consuming too many calories, and not getting enough exercise increases the risk of aggressive prostate cancer,” Brawley adds.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to lower your risk.
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The best way to stay one step ahead of prostate cancer is to maintain a normal body weight, exercise regularly, and eat a balanced diet with five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day, he shares.
Dr. Andrew Laccetti, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Montvale, N.J., agrees.
“Although this study does not definitely suggest that dairy directly causes an increase in prostate cancer risk, it does fit with the broader understanding that prostate cancer is a disease of Western nations,” he says.
“A Western lifestyle, including diets rich in saturated fats, sedentary behavior and obesity, exhibits convincing evidence to support an association with the development of prostate cancer,” Laccetti notes.
Looking to make the switch from cow’s milk to plant-based alternatives? Check out these tasty options.
