9 Foods That May Affect PSA Level
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9 Foods That May Affect PSA Level

An increase in PSA level can signal that prostate cancer has spread or returned after treatment.
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Published on October 9, 2025
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rye bread, tomatoes, coffee
Certain foods may have potential effects on PSA levels and prostate cancer.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein made by the prostate gland. A high PSA level could be a sign of an enlarged prostate, inflammation called prostatitis, or prostate cancer.

The PSA test checks for levels of this protein.

After a prostate cancer diagnosis, a rising PSA level can mean that the cancer has progressed or returned following treatment. “As cancer progresses, the PSA progresses,” says Hope Barkoukis, PhD, RDN, chair of the nutrition department at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland.

Eating nutrient-rich foods could help you stay healthy during treatment and possibly reduce the risk of a recurrence.

 But are there any specific foods that lower PSA levels? Recent studies are scant and the evidence is very limited, because nutrition studies generally look at the effects of dietary patterns on cancer progression, rather than the effects of one specific food, says June M. Chan, ScD, Steven and Christine Burd-Safeway Distinguished Professor of Urology at UCSF in San Francisco.

Diet also isn't a replacement for the medicines your healthcare team prescribes. Instead, it should work along with your treatment. “Integrating nutrients with traditional medicine is the best option. We call that the field of integrated medicine,” says Nagi Kumar, PhD, RD, a senior member in the department of cancer epidemiology at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.

Here are a few foods you may want to include in — or leave out of — your diet during prostate cancer treatment because of their potential effects on PSA levels and prostate cancer.

1

Broccoli

broccoli
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli may stop cancer cells from growing and dividing, and speed up their death.

 Cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, and Brussels sprouts are also part of this healthy vegetable group, and worthy of including in your diet. One older study found that men who ate the most cruciferous vegetables had a 59 percent lower risk of prostate cancer progression compared with those with the lowest intake.

This vegetable group might also protect men who haven't been diagnosed. “Cruciferous veggies contain certain compounds such as glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, which are known to reduce risks of a multiplicity of human cancers, including prostate,” says Dr. Barkoukis. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that men who had a higher intake of cruciferous vegetables had a lower risk of prostate cancer.

2

Salmon

salmon
Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, and herring are rich sources of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Although these fatty acids don't seem to affect PSA concentration, a recent study found that they may slow prostate cancer cell growth.

 There may also be an association between higher omega-3 intake from fish and a reduced risk of death from prostate cancer.

3

Green Tea

green tea
Green tea contains healthful plant compounds called catechins, most notably epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Early studies have shown that green tea catechins may block cancer cell growth. People who drink large amounts of green tea may be at lower risk for cancer, but the evidence is limited and more research is necessary.

“EGCG can significantly reduce PSA in men who are at high risk for prostate cancer,” says Dr. Kumar. In her own research of catechins for prostate cancer prevention, giving men 200-milligram (mg) capsules of EGCG for one year led to a drop in PSA level.

 But she cautions that to drink the amount of green tea needed to produce that effect, “You have to literally stand near a bathroom because it's a diuretic.”
4

Tomatoes

tomatoes
These red fruits are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which may slow the growth and spread of prostate cancer. Cooking tomatoes in oil before eating them improves lycopene absorption.

Studies have linked tomatoes with a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer, and especially late-stage prostate cancer. But the evidence of its effects on PSA levels is limited. A review of studies showed that lycopene supplements, not tomatoes, did lower PSA levels in men with early-stage prostate cancer, but only in those whose PSA levels were high to begin with.

Because tomatoes are healthy in general, they're worth eating. Kumar suggests consuming them in the form of tomato soup or sauce for the greatest benefit.

5

Coffee

coffee
Coffee contains compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that might stop cancer cell growth and encourage programmed cell death, called apoptosis. One study found that in men at risk for prostate cancer, those with a higher PSA level had consumed less caffeine than those with a normal PSA level. However, that association didn't stand after the researchers adjusted for other factors that might affect PSA levels.

Better evidence exists showing that drinking coffee might lower the risk for prostate cancer, and positively affect outcomes in men who've been diagnosed.

 In one older study, men who drank four or more cups of coffee a day had a 59 percent lower risk of prostate cancer recurrence or progression compared with those who drank one or fewer cups a week. The researchers didn't find that coffee drinkers faced lower odds of dying from their cancer, but it was hard for them to confirm that finding, since very few men died during the study period.

6

Nuts

almonds
The evidence on nuts and prostate cancer is mixed, but studies have shown that more frequent nut consumption is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing this cancer.

 One older study showed a 34 percent lower rate of death in people who ate nuts five or more times a week after their prostate cancer diagnosis, compared with those who ate nuts less than once a month.

 Because nuts are a good source of healthy unsaturated fat and fiber, they're worth adding to your diet.

7

Whole Grains

rye bread
Grains are high in fiber, as well as vitamins and minerals that have anti-cancer properties. An analysis of 15 studies found that high consumption of fiber from grains was associated with a lower risk of progression to advanced prostate cancer and death from prostate cancer.

 Rye bread in particular may be beneficial. In an older study, men with prostate cancer who ate whole grain and bran from rye had significantly lower PSA levels compared with those who ate refined wheat.

8

Eggs — Limit

eggs
Eggs (along with red meat and dairy products) contain large amounts of the nutrient choline, which is also in prostate cancer cells. In one study, men who ate the most choline (around 500 mg per day) had a 70 percent increased risk of metastatic or fatal prostate cancer compared with men who ate around 300 mg per day.

Experts say there's no need to cut eggs, or other choline sources, completely from your diet, since it's a required nutrient. Just limit eggs to two or less per week.

9

Bacon and Sausage — Avoid

bacon
Eating a lot of processed meats like bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and bologna is linked to an increased risk for prostate cancer.

 In men who are already diagnosed, cutting out meat doesn't affect PSA concentrations.

 But because processed red meat increases the risk of dying overall, it's worth avoiding.
“In general, we recommend eating more healthy plant-based fats instead of saturated fat [from red or processed meat], things that would overlap with a general healthy diet or a heart-healthy diet,” says Dr. Chan.

The Takeaway

  • An increase in PSA level can signal that prostate cancer has spread or returned after treatment.
  • There isn't much evidence to show that specific foods raise or lower PSA levels.
  • Eating a nutritious diet that's high in fresh vegetables and fruits, fatty fish, whole grains, and nuts and low in red and processed meats might improve the outlook for men with prostate cancer.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test. MedlinePlus. May 19, 2025.
  2. Grammatikopoulou MG et al. Dietary Factors and Supplements Influencing Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Concentrations in Men with Prostate Cancer and Increased Cancer Risk: An Evidence Analysis Review Based on Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. September 29, 2020.
  3. Cruciferous Vegetables and Cancer Prevention. National Cancer Institute. June 7, 2012.
  4. Richman EL et al. Vegetable and Fruit Intake After Diagnosis and Risk of Prostate Cancer Progression. International Journal of Cancer. August 30, 2011.
  5. Long J et al. Cruciferous Vegetable Intake and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Urologia Internationalis. June 21, 2023.
  6. Aronson WJ et al. High Omega-3, Low Omega-6 Diet With Fish Oil for Men With Prostate Cancer on Active Surveillance: The CAPFISH-3 Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology. December 13, 2024.
  7. Aucoin M et al. Fish-Derived Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review. Integrative Cancer Therapies. March 2017.
  8. Filippini T et al. Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis for the Prevention of Cancer. Cochrane Reviews. March 2, 2020.
  9. Kumar NB et al. Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Green Tea Catechins for Prostate Cancer Prevention. Cancer Prevention Research. April 14, 2015.
  10. Peisch SF et al. Prostate Cancer Progression and Mortality: A Review of Diet and Lifestyle Factors. World Journal of Urology. June 15, 2017.
  11. Sadeghian M et al. Lycopene Does Not Affect Prostate-Specific Antigen in Men with Non-Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrition and Cancer. 2021.
  12. Wu H et al. Association Between Dietary Intake and Urinary Concentrations of Caffeine and Caffeine Metabolites and Elevated Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Among Men at Risk for Prostate Cancer. Cancer Causes & Control. July 2, 2025.
  13. Chen X et al. Coffee Consumption and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. BMJ Open. January 11, 2021.
  14. Geybels MS et al. Coffee and Tea Consumption in Relation to Prostate Cancer Prognosis. Cancer Causes & Control. August 2, 2013.
  15. Ton M et al. Nut and Peanut Butter Consumption and Risk of Prostate Cancer in the NIH‐AARP Diet and Health Study. Cancer Communications. October 17, 2021.
  16. Wang W et al. Nut Consumption and Prostate Cancer Risk and Mortality. British Journal of Cancer. June 9, 2016.
  17. Nuts and Your Heart: Eating Nuts for Heart Health. Mayo Clinic. November 15, 2023.
  18. Sidahmed E et al. Dietary Fiber Intake and Risk of Advanced and Aggressive Forms of Prostate Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of 15 Prospective Cohort Studies. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. January 2025.
  19. Landberg R et al. Rye Whole Grain and Bran Intake Compared with Refined Wheat Decreases Urinary C-peptide, Plasma Insulin, and Prostate Specific Antigen in Men with Prostate Cancer. The Journal of Nutrition. December 2010.
  20. Richman EL et al. Choline Intake and Risk of Lethal Prostate Cancer: Incidence and Survival. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. September 5, 2012.
  21. Kenfield S. Prostate Cancer and Eggs, Dairy, Supplements: Your Questions Answered. Prostate Cancer Foundation.
  22. Nouri-Majd S et al. Association Between Red and Processed Meat Consumption and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition. February 7, 2022.
  23. Health And Wellness: Living With Prostate Cancer — Part 2: Diet Recommendations. University of California San Francisco. April 2018.
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