Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men in the U.S.
Every year, it is estimated that more than 180,000 men are diagnosed with cancer.
Beyond the threat of prostate cancer, an enlarged or infected prostate can also lead to complications.
King Scott Coffield, MD, urologist, and professor of surgery at the Texas A&M College of Medicine provides important tips to help men protect prostate health.
The prostate is a gland—about the size of a walnut—located below the bladder. It produces fluid that nourishes and protects sperm.
The prostate houses the urethra, which runs from the bladder to the penis and lets urine flow out of the body.
An enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), can press on the urethra and obstruct urine flow.
About 80% of older men are at risk for this benign prostate enlargement.
According to the researcher, there are several things every man can do prevent prostate problems:
Keep a healthy body weight
The best way to keep your prostate healthy is with a muscle-friendly diet and exercise because the prostate is a muscle. In addition, keeping a healthy body weight is very beneficial.
All of these can help maintain blood flow to the muscle and allows the prostate to function best.
It is important to start having healthy lifestyle habits early in life. Many men do this only in their late years, which can be too late to prevent prostate cancer.
When doing exercise, men should choose exercises that can benefit the heart. The rule is that ‘if it’s good for the heart, it’s good for the prostate.
Be more sexually active
Research has shown that frequent use of the prostate through sexual activity may actually decrease the risk of prostate cancer.
Ejaculation frequency, along with exercise, could lead to better prostate health. The prostate is used during ejaculation, and this usage can help keep the gland healthy.
A recent Harvard study showed that men with more frequent ejaculations had a 33 % lower risk of prostate cancer
Do not smoke tobacco (both firsthand and secondhand)
Smoking tobacco is the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the U.S. Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke can cause more deaths every year.
Smoking is particularly harmful to prostate health.
Research has found that smoking can reduce red blood cells’ oxygen-carrying capacity and makes it more difficult for oxygen to travel throughout the body, and in particular the prostate.
Add these nutrients to meals
Lycopene, a chemical found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, is a potent antioxidant and can improve prostate health.
Sulforaphane, which is found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and kale, may inhibit the development of prostate cancer cells.
Also, foods rich in selenium—such as wheat germ, shellfish, liver, and kidney—are beneficial for your prostate.
In addition, soy can improve prostate health and lower the risk of prostate cancer.
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