Eating more garlic and onions can cut a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer in half, say Chinese researchers. Scientists believe the sulphur compounds in these foods account for the protective effects.

The researchers questioned 709 men on the frequency of their intake of 122 food items. The results showed that those who ate more than a nine grams a day from the allium food group were about 50% less likely to have prostate cancer than those who ate less of the foods. The allium food group includes garlic, scallions, chives, leeks and onions. They found that the reduced risk of prostate cancer associated with allium vegetables was “independent of body size, intake of other foods, and total calorie intake and was more pronounced for men with localized than with advanced prostate cancer.”

The most protective vegetable in the allium group was scallions, which reduced prostate cancer risk by about 70% for those who ate three or more grams per day. The same amount of garlic reduced the risk by about 53%.

Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 94, No. 21, 1648-1651