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Author:
Richard Romando

Diet and lifestyle play important roles in keeping the prostate healthy. Food and the environment influence the way the body functions. The body has natural defenses against allowing normal cells to become cancerous and allowing cancer cells to grow. Ingestion of certain nutrients may decrease the chances of developing prostate cancer or reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Certain nutrients may also slow down the progression of the disease.

Adopting certain dietary changes is an important step towards better prostate health. Obesity is known to increase the risk of prostate cancer. Research shows that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test results in obese men can be lower despite the presence of disease, potentially leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. The recovery from surgery tends to be longer and more difficult and the risk of death due to prostate cancer can be higher.

Weight management is essential for good prostate health. Regular exercise is necessary to maintain muscle strength and endurance. An increase in the intake of vegetables and nuts can prove beneficial. Tomatoes, watermelons, pink grapefruits, guava and papaya contain lycopene, a naturally occurring chemical. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that help protect the body against cancer.

Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts contain sulforaphane, a compound that increases activity of proteins and clears out carcinogens from the body. Carcinogens are substances known to cause cancer and are ingested into our body on a regular basis.

Isoflayones found in soy and polyphenols found in green tea, interrupt the growth pathways of cancer cells. Asian men are known to consume soy and green tea regularly and hence are at a lesser risk of being afflicted with prostate cancer.

Vitamins and minerals in food help regulate many of the body’s processes and functions. They help monitor the balance between cancer cell growth and cancer cell death. Research over the years has shown that the loss of vitamins and minerals contribute to uncontrolled cancer cell growth. An increase in the intake of foods rich in vitamins and minerals like lettuce, cereals, citrus fruits, milk and carrots, help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Since men lose zinc during every seminal emission, their need for the mineral is higher than a woman's. Pumpkin seeds, oysters and shellfish are good sources of zinc. Following these simple dietary tips ensures good prostrate health.

Prostate provides detailed information on Prostate, Prostate Cancer, Prostate Health, Prostate Cancer Treatment and more. Prostate is affiliated with Prostate Cancer Treatments.

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to The Prostate... Prostate Cancer Treatment Prostate cancer is a complex heterogeneous disease that acts differently in different men. Therefore, treatment varies amongst individuals. A wide array of treatments exists for prostate cancer, which includes surgery, radiation, hormone deprivation therapy, chemotherapy, dietary changes and the use of various herbal supplements. A patient may undergo hormonal therapy to reduce the level of testosterone in the body. Drugs that reduce testosterone production by the testicles like Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LH-RH) agonists are administered. The effect is not immediate and occurs 2-4 weeks after initiation of the therapy. Orchiectomy or castration is a surgical procedure that completely removes the testicles. It produces an immediate and permanent reduction in testosterone. Another alternative hormonal treatment is the use of hormone-blocking drugs, called antiandrogens. Antiandrogens like flutamide and nilutamide block the body’s ability to use androgens, such as testosterone. Surgeons may use different techniques to remove the prostate. Surgical removal of the entire prostate gland is called radical prostatectomy. Radical prostatectomy is usually performed to remove early-stage prostate cancer that has not yet spread to other parts of the body. Side effects after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer include incontinence and impotence. Cryosurgery, in which liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and kill prostate cancer cells is a common procedure. During cryosurgery, a warming catheter is inserted through the penis and this protects the urethra. Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy x-rays or subatomic particles to kill cancer cells. The rays may either be beamed from a machine or emitted by radioactive seeds implanted in the prostate. ...