Many men struggle to discuss their health issues, but keeping silent can mean delaying seeking treatment until it is too late. Perhaps no area is as emotionally charged as those that affect their sexual well-being.
Your prostate gland plays a vital role in your body, but most men don’t know much about this organ until it causes trouble. Here’s what you need to know about your prostate and six natural ways to improve its health.
The Role of Your Prostate
Your prostate is part of your reproductive system. This small gland below your bladder combines its juices with sperm cells from your testes, fluid from your seminal vesicles and secretions from the bulbourethral gland. It makes up your semen. All of this love potion number nine gets blended in your urethra.
Your sperm cells need your prostatic secretions for health — without the magic from this gland, you’ll have reduced fertility. The hormones it releases enable sperm to move, getting them to the goal line — their partner’s egg.
Some men, therefore, avoid seeking medical attention for suspected problems because they fear the outcome. However, it’s vital to note that the early detection of diseases like cancer is critical. When caught in stage 1 or stage 2, 80% of patients survive for at least 10 years, but rates decrease as the condition progresses.
Common Prostate Problems
There are three most common forms of prostate disease, outlined below:
- Prostatitis: This condition can strike men of any age, but it is most common in those aged 30 to 50. It often results from bacterial infection, although some men have an inflamed prostate for no apparent reason, a disorder known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): This condition is benign, but that doesn’t mean it won’t cause trouble. Many men develop an enlarged prostate as they age. This swelling puts pressure on the urethra, making it more challenging to empty the bladder. Too much pressure on the bladder can damage the kidney, and men may need a catheter for relief.
- Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer typically affects men over 50. While it can be treated by various means, trouble happens if it metastasizes and spreads to other areas of the body, particularly the bones.
6 Natural Ways to Improve Prostate Health
As with many diseases, making positive lifestyle changes can help you reduce your chances of getting sick down the road. What are some ways you can boost your prostate health? Here are six natural methods.
1. Eat More Soy
Doctors often evaluate your prostate cancer risk by issuing a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. PSA occurs in the heaviest concentrations in semen, but small amounts also appear in men’s bloodstreams. Your levels do increase as you get older, but most researchers set a cutoff at around 3-ng/mL when determining which men run the highest cancer risk.
However, studies performed on prostate-cancer survivors and published by the American Institute for Cancer Research indicate that eating foods rich in soy lowers PSA levels. Furthermore, men in various stages of the disease who consumed soy milk or isolated soy isoflavones see their PSA levels rise less sharply than those who do not.
2. Use Caution With Omega-3 Rich Foods
There are mixed messages when it comes to fish oil supplementation and prostate cancer. While originally thought to be healthy, research findings by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle showed that men who fell into the top 25% for omega-3 levels in their blood were 43% more likely to have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
However, it’s vital to note two things: an association is not the same as causation, and supplements work differently than whole foods. Other studies show no improvement in cardiovascular risk among those who take over-the-counter pills.
Other researchers, like William Harris, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine, cites eight additional studies that show the correlation is not statistically significant. He also referred to extensive literature showing lower prostate cancer rates in populations that ate the most fish.
The bottom line? Keep your Fish Fridays, but perhaps reconsider your fish oil supplement.
3. Top It With Tomatoes
Do you love pizza dripping with sauce? You are in luck — your obsession with Italian food may slash your risk of prostate cancer.
A review of 24 studies published by the National Library of Medicine shows that males who eat more tomatoes have a lower risk of prostate cancer. The secret lies in lycopene. This potent antioxidant decreases cell damage and slows cancer cell production.
The news gets better, though. Because lycopene binds to cell walls, your body struggles to extract it from the raw veggie. You’re better off with a puree or sauce. Lasagna? Yes, please.
4. Cut Down on Meat Consumption
If you are a gym rat who thinks nothing of downing a burger several times weekly for the protein, please reconsider your approach. Keep the exercise — it lowers your risk. However, according to research published by the National Institutes of Health, red meat consumption is associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer.
You don’t fare much better if you head to a chain restaurant for a “healthy” sandwich. Processed meat consumption is associated with advanced prostate cancer risk. Red, processed meats, like ham and roast beef, were the worst.
5. Reduce Your Salt Intake
While few studies exist on salt and prostate cancer, some evidence suggests that it may aggravate BPH. There’s little doubt that it can increase the symptoms of this benign disorder.
Too much salt makes your kidneys work harder to excrete the excess sodium. As a result, you may have to go more frequently, but if an enlarged prostate makes voiding a challenge, you run a higher risk of infection.
6. Pour Another Cuppa
Let’s end this discussion on a high note — if you are a java junkie, there’s uplifting news. According to research published by Harvard Health, men who consumed the most coffee had a 20% lower risk of developing prostate cancer.
The news gets better. Men who guzzled six cups or more had the lowest risk of aggressive forms of the disease. If you needed another reason to make an extra run to your favorite shop, there you go.
Reduce Your Risk and Improve Prostate Health the Natural Way
You can reduce your risk of prostate problems and preserve your fertility. Try these six natural methods to protect this vital organ.
And remember–early detection is key! Diet is not a substitute for regular check-ups!
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