If you're worried about your risk of prostate cancer, you may want to know ways to help prevent it.

Researchers haven't found a sure way to prevent prostate cancer. Study results often conflict with each other. And most studies aren't designed to prove whether something can prevent prostate cancer.

But healthcare professionals suggest that people with an average risk of prostate cancer make healthy lifestyle choices for prostate cancer prevention. Many of the things you can do for prostate cancer prevention are things that may help improve your health in general. Here are some good choices to make.

People who are obese may have a higher risk of prostate cancer. Obesity means a body mass index of 30 or higher. If you carry excess weight, work on losing it. Cut the number of calories you eat each day and exercise more.

To stay at a healthy weight, exercise most days of the week. Choose healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Foods that have fats include meats, nuts, oils, and dairy products, such as milk and cheese.

In some studies, those who ate the highest amount of fat each day had an increased risk of prostate cancer. This doesn't prove that eating excess fat causes prostate cancer. Other studies haven't found this link.

But cutting the amount of fat you eat each day has other plusses. For instance, cutting fat can help you control your weight and improve heart health.

To cut fat, limit fatty foods or choose low-fat foods. For instance, add less fat to foods when cooking. Choose leaner cuts of meat. Eat low-fat or reduced-fat dairy products.

In some studies, those who ate the most milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products each day had the highest risk of prostate cancer. But study results have been mixed. The risk linked to dairy products is thought to be small.

Not all studies have found a link between smoking and prostate cancer. But some studies show that people with prostate cancer who smoke have a higher risk of the cancer coming back. They also have a higher risk of the cancer spreading beyond the prostate.

If you smoke, talk with your healthcare professional about ways to quit.

Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and nutrients that are thought to cut the risk of prostate cancer. Eating more fruits and vegetables also tends to be filling, so you have less room for other foods that aren't as healthy.

To eat more fruits and vegetables each day, add an extra fruit or vegetable serving to each meal. Eat fruits and vegetables for snacks.

Most studies of exercise and prostate cancer risk have shown that those who exercise may have a lower risk of prostate cancer than those who don't.

Exercise helps your health in many ways. It may lower your risk of heart disease and other cancers. Exercise can help you stay at a healthy weight or lose weight if you need to.

If you don't already exercise, make an appointment with your healthcare professional to make sure it's OK for you to get started. When you begin exercising, go slowly. Find ways to add physical activity to your day. For example, park your car farther away from where you're going. Take stairs instead of elevators.

Aim for 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity or a mix of the two.

There is some evidence that choosing a healthy diet that's low in fat and full of fruits and vegetables may contribute to a lower risk of prostate cancer, though research results have been mixed and this hasn't been proved concretely.

If you want to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, consider trying to:

• Choose a low-fat diet. Foods that contain fats include meats, nuts, oils and dairy products, such as milk and cheese.

  In some studies, men who ate the highest amount of fat each day had an increased risk of prostate cancer. This doesn't prove that excess fat causes prostate cancer. Other studies haven't found this association. But reducing the amount of fat you eat each day has other proven benefits, such as helping you control your weight and helping your heart.

  To reduce the amount of fat you eat each day, limit fatty foods or choose low-fat varieties. For instance, reduce the amount of fat you add to foods when cooking, select leaner cuts of meat, and choose low-fat or reduced-fat dairy products.

• Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat each day. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and nutrients that are thought to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, though research hasn't proved that any particular nutrient is guaranteed to reduce your risk.

  Eating more fruits and vegetables also tends to make you have less room for other foods, such as high-fat foods.

  You might consider increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat each day by adding an additional serving of a fruit or vegetable to each meal. Consider eating fruits and vegetables for snacks.

• Reduce the amount of dairy products you eat each day. In studies, men who ate the most dairy products — such as milk, cheese and yogurt — each day had the highest risk of prostate cancer. But study results have been mixed, and the risk associated with dairy products is thought to be small.

Men who are obese — a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher — may have an increased risk of prostate cancer. If you are overweight or obese, work on losing weight. You can do this by reducing the number of calories you eat each day and increasing the amount of exercise you do.

If you are at a healthy weight, work to maintain it by exercising most days of the week and choosing a healthy diet that's rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Some men have an increased risk of prostate cancer. For those with a very high risk of prostate cancer, there may be other options for risk reduction, such as medications. If you think you have a high risk of prostate cancer, discuss it with your doctor.

Some people have a higher risk of prostate cancer. For instance, having a family history of prostate cancer can raise your risk.

For those with a very high risk of prostate cancer, there may be other ways to lower risk. These might include medicines. If you think you have a high risk of prostate cancer, talk with your health professional.