A new diet has been created to help men combat prostate cancer and it will be promoted during a week of events from March 12th to the 19th, Father's Day in Italy.
According to Giuliano Da Villa, chairman of the Food and Health scientific committee, ''today 35% of cancer cases can be prevented through a proper diet and this percentage rises to 45% for prostate cancer and by as much as 70% for colon cancer''.
The daily diet devised by experts consists of 600g of fruit and vegetables, 200ml of pomegranate juice, 600ml of green tea, garlic, tomatoes and other vegetables containing lycopene.
Sugars and fats are to be avoided in the diet which must also contain generous amounts of raw grains, legumes and lots of water.
Aside from the diet, experts also said that exercise was essential, at least 30 minutes of walking a day.
According to experts, one of the reasons why prostate cancer has been on the rise is because of poor eating habits, especially the consumption of too many fats and too much protein.
The slogan for anti-prostate cancer week is 'don't be afraid, be informed,'' and stands will be set up in 100 squares in Italy to distribute information and collect donations for the acquisition of laparoscopes, to be donated to anti-cancer centers in Rome, Milan and Bari.
A laparoscope is tube-like instrument which can be inserted into the body through a small incision for viewing and microsurgery.
According to the chairman of the World Urology Foundation, Mauro Dimitri, Italian men tend to be ''big babies'' when it comes to having check-ups for prostate and colon cancer.
For this reason, one of the posters for the awareness week shows a man with a pacifier in his mouth.
Among those helping to promote the week will be opera-pop crooner Andrea Boccelli and renowned oncologist Umberto Veronesi.
