The Top 10 Nutritional Advice to Understanding Prostate Health for Men

This article discusses the topic of Understanding Prostate Health. While the prostate is a gland found only in males, so that means – it is just a guy thing. But for our women readers, you probably know someone like a father, uncle, brother, son, friend, neighbor, or colleague that you might want to share this information with.

Reading this article can help one understand Prostate Health and spread some helpful information to those you care about. As we will be talking about health promotion, we will be providing three things:

1. Information
2. Reassurance
3. A plan of action.

What Is the Prostate?

Image from Continence Foundation of Australia

The prostate is an organ located under the bladder. And it produces some of the fluid that protects and nourishes sperm cells in semen.

It starts to develop before birth. And it grows rapidly during puberty, then stays at about the same size or grows slowly in adults, fuelled by the male hormone testosterone.

Is Prostate Cancer common among Filipinos?

Prostate cancer is the fourth leading cancer site for Filipino males, with about eight new cases every day. One out of 100 males would have died from this disease before age 75. The risk of developing prostate cancer progressively increases with age. So prostate cancer occurs mainly in older men.

What Causes Prostate Cancer?

Image from Mayo Clinic

Doctors don\’t know what causes prostate cancer, but diet contributes to the risk. For example, men who eat lots of fat from red meat are most likely to have prostate cancer.

Eating meat may be risky for other reasons: Meat cooked at high temperatures produces cancer-causing substances that affect the prostate. The disease is much more common in countries where meat and dairy products are common than in countries where the diet consists of rice, soybean products, and vegetables.

Hormones also play a role. For example, eating fats raises the amount of testosterone in the body, and testosterone speeds the growth of prostate cancer.

A few job hazards have been found. For example, welders, battery manufacturers, rubber workers, and workers frequently exposed to the metal cadmium seem more likely to get prostate cancer.

Not exercising also makes prostate cancer more likely.

Drugs that may lower the risk of prostate cancer include aspirin, finasteride (Proscar), and dutasteride (Avodart).

Can Prostate Cancer Be Prevented?

There\’s no evidence that you can prevent prostate cancer. But a few simple things may help lower your odds.

Is benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH the same as Prostate Cancer?

No, BPH is not cancer and does not develop into cancer. But the symptoms may be similar to trouble passing urine, so it is important to tell your doctor if you have any of these problems so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

After answering two of the most commonly asked questions about Prostate Cancer, let\’s continue by giving you some perspective.

The Function of a Prostate

Everyone has a pair of kidneys. The job of the kidney is to remove waste. It is the waste management company of your body. And each day, your blood passes through the kidney about 40 times a day where more than 1 million tiny filters inside the kidneys remove the waste.

As the blood is filtered, urine is formed and stored in a temporary storage tank called the urinary bladder. If there were to be no urinary bladder, urine would be dropping as a man walks on the road.

Now think of the plumbing work in your house. Then think of the urinary bladder as the overhead storage tank.

A good plumber will run pipes to other parts of the house from the storage tank, including the kitchen.

God in His wisdom ran pipes from our urinary bladder to the tip of the penis. The pipe is called the urethra. Just below the bladder and surrounding the urethra is a tiny organ called the prostate gland.

The prostate gland is the size of a walnut and weighs about 20grams. And it\’s job is to make the seminal fluid that is stored in the seminal vesicle.

During sexual intercourse, seminal fluid comes down the urethra and mixes with the sperms produced in the testicles to form the semen. So semen technically is not sperm. Instead, it is sperm + seminal fluid. The seminal fluid lubricates the sperm.

After age 40, for reasons that may be hormonal, the prostate gland begins to enlarge. From 20 grams, it may grow to almost 100 grams. As it enlarges, it squeezes the urethra, and the man starts to notice changes in the way he urinates.

If you have a son under 10, he has a little mischief like all men did at that age. When he urinates and targets the ceiling or other items, the stream will be strong, but for men over 40, this urine stream can weaken and can no longer travel at a long distance and sometimes come straight down on his legs.

So the man may need to stand in an awkward position to urinate.

But not many adult men will be worried their urine stream cannot hit the ceiling. Toilets are on the floor and not on the ceiling. But other symptoms begin to show.

What symptoms are possibly related to Prostate Cancer?

Image from Daily Express

• If you have the following, particularly aged >65 years – go for a medical consult immediately:
• Problems passing urine, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night.
• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Trouble getting an erection (impotence)
• Pain in the hips, back (spine), chest (ribs), or other areas from cancer spread to bones.
• Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord

To elaborate, let\’s head on to more detailed instances.

• Terminal Dripping

The man begins to notice that after urinating and repacking, urine still drops on his pants. This is the reason why after an older man urinates, he has to ring the bell. A younger man simply delivers to the last drop and walks away. Just see an older man coming from the bathroom. Sometimes he may clutch the newspaper closely to hide the urine stains, particularly on plain colored trousers.

• Hesitancy

At this point, you wait longer for the urine flow to start. Two valves must open for you to urinate – the internal and external sphincters. Both open, but because of obstructions in the urethra, you wait longer for the flow to start.

• Incomplete emptying

You have this feeling immediately after urinating that there is still something left. As all these things happen, the bladder begins to work harder to compensate for the obstruction in the urethra. The frequency of urination goes up. Urgency sets in. Sometimes you have to run into the toilet practically. Nocturia also becomes common. You wake up more than two times at night to urinate.

Men being men, may not talk to anyone even at this point. Then the more serious complications start.

• Chronic urinary retention

Stored urine gets infected, and there may be a slight burning sensation when urinating. Stored urine forms crystals. Crystals come together to form stones either in the bladder or in the kidney. Stones may block the urethra.

Chronic urinary retention sets in. The bladder stores more and more urine. The size of the bladder is 40 – 60cl. A bottle of coke is 50cl. As the bladder stores more urine, it can enlarge up to 300cl.

An overfilled bladder may leak, and this leads to wetting / urinary incontinence. Also, the volume may put pressure on the kidney and may lead to kidney damage.

What may likely bring the man to the hospital is acute urinary retention. He wakes up one day, and he is not able to pass urine.

Everything I have described above is associated with prostate enlargement, technically called benign prostate hyperplasia. There are other diseases of the prostate like:

1. Prostatitis – inflammation of the prostate
2. Prostate cancer – cancer of the prostate.

This discussion is on prostate enlargement.

We have bad news and good news.

The bad news is that every man will have prostate enlargement if he lives long enough. The good news is that lifestyle changes can help the man after 40 to maintain optimum prostate health. Such as having a well-balanced diet.

The Top 10 Nutritional Advice to Understanding Prostate Health for Men

1. Consume red foods like tomatoes

Image from Amway Connections

Red-colored foods such as watermelon, tomatoes, and the like have a bright color from lycopene\’s powerful antioxidant. Men who consume this fruit and tomato-based products have a decreased risk of prostate cancer than those who do not, according to recent studies.

The American Institute for Cancer Research, on the other hand, warns that research on tomatoes and prostate cancer prevention is limited and ongoing.

According to a 2018 study from Spain, Cooking tomatoes makes it easier for your body to absorb lycopene.

Because lycopene accumulates during ripening, the redder the tomato, the better. That means that early-picked, pale store-bought tomatoes have less lycopene than vine-ripened tomatoes.

2. Recognize the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables

Image from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health – Harvard University

Nutrients and vitamins found in fruits and vegetables may help to lower your risk of prostate cancer. Carcinogens, which cause cancer, are broken down by chemicals found in green vegetables. So a nutrient-dense diet may also inhibit the spread of cancer.

If you consume fruits and vegetables throughout the day, you\’ll be less prone to eat processed junk food.

3. Consider soybeans and tea.

Image from favy

In at least one 2014 analysis of controlled research, a vitamin called isoflavones was related to a lower risk of prostate cancer. Isoflavones can be found in the following foods:

• tofu (made from soybeans)
• chickpeas
• lentils
• alfalfa sprouts
• peanuts

Green tea and prostate cancer risk have been investigated for a long time, with varied results. Men who drink green tea or take green tea extract supplements have a decreased chance of advanced prostate cancer than those who don\’t, according to a 2008 study.

The cell and animal study confirmed a link between the major components in green tea and a lower risk of prostate cancer, according to a 2010 assessment of clinical data. However, more human clinical trials are needed, according to the report.

4. Drink another cup of coffee

Image from Ladders

Heavy coffee consumption has been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer death:

According to a 2014 assessment of clinical trials, drinking four to five cups of coffee per day can reduce your risk of deadly and high-grade prostate cancer.

Regardless of how many cups of coffee you drink in total, every three cups reduce your risk of dying from prostate cancer by roughly 11%.

Prostate cancer and coffee have a dose-response relationship, according to this theory. As a result, the effect on prostate cancer varies depending on how much coffee you drink. These effects may not be felt by someone who merely drinks a cup now and then.

On the other hand, caffeine in high dosages can cause serious health problems like irregular heartbeat and convulsions. Therefore, according to the Mayo Clinic, caffeine intake of more than 400 mg per day, or the equivalent of four cups of brewed coffee, is not recommended.

The way coffee is made might also play a role. For example, coffee made with a filter and boiling coffee, which does not require a filter, were the subjects of a 2015 study in Norway. Men who drank boiled coffee had a decreased risk of prostate cancer than men who drank coffee cooked in another way or didn\’t drink coffee at all.

Cafestol and kahweol are two compounds with well-known cancer-fighting properties. According to researchers, these compounds are believed to be trapped when coffee is filtered through a paper filter. As a result, these cancer-fighting compounds may remain in your regular drink if you boil them.

5. Make good choices about fat

Image from Vegan Food & Living

According to a 2014 study, animal fats may be linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. Animal fats can also be present in lard, butter, and cheese, in addition to meat. Replace animal-based fats with plant-based fats whenever possible.

This, instead of that:

• olive oil instead of butter
• fruit instead of candy
• fresh vegetables instead of prepackaged foods
• nuts or seeds instead of cheese

Also, overcooking meat produces carcinogens, so be careful not to overcook your meat.

6. Stop smoking

Image from Spine Health

Patients with prostate cancer who smoke are more likely to experience a recurrence of the disease. Smokers are also more likely to die from prostate cancer.

It\’s not too late to make a change. Prostate cancer patients who quit smoking for more than ten years had the same mortality risk as those who never smoked compared to current smokers.

7. Keep in mind controversial foods

Image from SciTechDaily

Fish and omega-3 fatty acids may help lower your risk of prostate cancer. Sardines, tuna, mackerel, trout, and salmon are among the fish that contain omega-3.

In 2013, a study found that men who had high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood are more likely to develop prostate cancer.

However, more recent research published in 2015 uncovered significant flaws in the study. It concluded that it did not show a link between increasing omega-3 intake and an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Based on this conflicting information, it is best to consult with your doctor to determine which option is best for you.

Dairy

According to the Mayo Clinic, specific research has connected dairy products or calcium-rich diets to an increased risk of prostate cancer. However, studies have yielded inconsistent results, and this danger is regarded as minor.

8. Make time for exercise

Image from Fitness Nation

Being overweight or obese has been related to a higher risk of prostate cancer that is aggressive.

Exercise can assist you in maintaining a healthy weight. Increased muscle growth and a faster metabolism are two of the many advantages of exercise. Try:

• walking
• running
• bicycling
• swimming

Exercising does not have to be a hassle. Change up your routine and encourage your buddies to join you. If you enjoy working out, you are more inclined to do so.

9. Talk to your doctor

Image from LDNscience

Ask your doctor about your risk of developing prostate cancer. Some points to discuss include:

• what medical screening tests you should have as you age
• family history of cancer
• dietary recommendations

10. Other Physical activities and vices

Image from GOBankingRates

If you are actively doing exercises, consuming a lot of alcohol, and other vices, you should take note of the following tips below.

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

When men begin to experience urinary symptoms linked to prostate enlargement, they must consider their alcohol usage. When you put more fluid in, you get more fluid out.

Consume fewer liquids. Slowly drink your beverage.

EXERCISE

Exercise aids in the development of muscle tone. Every male should engage in physical activity. Men over the age of 40 should avoid high-impact activities such as jogging. It puts a lot of strain on the knees. Cycling is detrimental to the prostate. Instead, we recommend going for a vigorous stroll.

SITTING

Two-thirds of our weight is supported by the pelvic bones when we sit. Prostate symptoms are more common in men who sit for lengthy periods. Do not sit for long periods. Take as many walks as you can. Take a seat in one of the comfortable chairs. If you must sit for long periods, we propose a divided saddle chair.

DRESSING

Men should avoid wearing underwear that is too tight. It affects circulation and heats the area surrounding the groin. The groin has an ideal temperature of around 33 degrees, whereas the physiological temperature is 37 degrees. For guys, pants are a no-no. Boxers should be worn. Wear lightweight, breathable clothing.

SMOKING

Avoid smoking. It affects blood vessels and impacts circulation around the groin.

SEX

Sexual activity is beneficial to the prostate. Celibates are more likely to develop prostate cancer. Celibacy is a moral choice rather than a biological adaptation. The prostate gland is made to evacuate its contents regularly.

HELP SPREAD AWARENESS

The topic is quite significant. Therefore, please forward this message to as many people as possible. Even if you are preoccupied, you should read this message and deliver it to others!

Professor Chen Horin, chief executive of the Beijing Military Hospital, adds that \”bits of lemon in a glass of hot water can save you for the rest of your life.\”

• Hot lemons can kill cancer cells!
• Cut the lemon into three pieces and place it in a cup, then pour hot water, it will become (alkaline water), drinking it every day will undoubtedly benefit everyone.
• Hot lemons can once again release an anti-cancer drug.
• Hot lemon juice affects cancerous tumors and
• Has shown treatment for all types of cancer.
• Treatment with this extract will only destroy the malignant cells and will not affect healthy cells.

Lemon juice\’s acids and monocarboxylic acid can help to lower blood pressure, protect narrowed arteries, improve blood circulation, and prevent blood clotting.

Advice:

After you\’ve finished reading:

• Tell someone else about it.
• Pass it on to someone you care about.
• Take care of your health.

According to Professor Chen Horin, anyone who receives this letter is almost sure to save someone\’s life. So, we\’ve done our part; now, we\’re hoping you\’ll join us in spreading the word.