Every guy knows the word prostate, but very few know its purpose even how to make it healthy. This time we look at ways to eat your way to better prostate health and sperm function even she can’t complain about.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland right below the bladder. Its main job is to release an alkaline liquid called the seminal fluid. The fluid consists mostly of sugars (fructose) and enables the spermatozoids (baby sperm) to function properly.
An enlarged prostate is actually caused by hyperplasia. It doesn’t mean swelling, just an increase in the number of cells. BPH symptoms can be prevented and its progress stopped with the proper diet and regular checkups. The process leading to an enlarged prostate gland starts with low blood levels of testosterone. Prostate cells depend on testosterone to work properly so they release an enzyme (5-alpha-reductase) to transform what’s left of the testosterone into a hormone 10 times stronger called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
But the guy with low-testosterone is ill-adapted to the DHT hormone, which stimulates the growth of new prostate cells and new hormone receptors. DHT is so potent that at a certain point, it becomes toxic. The prostate cells try to get rid of it by secreting anotherenzyme (aromatase) that transforms both DHT and testosterone into estrogens. Estrogens add to the BHP problem by reducing the free testosterone in the blood, creating a vicious cycle.
Benign in medical terms means not cancerous. So BPH and cancer are two different conditions. A guy can hve prostate cancer and not BPH. The best way to kjnw whether you have one of these is to see your doctor at least once a year for a check-up.
Two basic tests can be done for you. The first and most dreaded one is the rectal exam.
It’s not comfortable but is not normally painful. This test distinguishes between a normal prostate, BPH, cancer and prostatitis. In BPH, the prostate is not tender or painful and doesn’t have any bumps. If the prostate is painful, you probably have prostatitis, an easily treated infection. If there are bumps, it may be cancerous and needs to be investigated further.
The second test is called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). It’s a blood test that looks for a marker or sign that indicates the presence of cancerous cells. The test isn’t very specific because PSA can be high in other conditions such as prostatitis. A sudden increase is considered serious and you’ll likely be referred to a specialist.
So what can eating right do for you?
Three nutrients are known to benefit the prostate: zinc, vitamin B6 and magnesium. Zinc and vitamin B6 are needed for proper hormone metabolism and zinc reduces the formation of DHT. Magnesium relaxes the sphincter of the urethra. This is useful because in BPH, this sphincter tends to contract, increasing urinal symptoms.
Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes, has 60 times the antioxidant power of betacarotene or Vitamin A, and can reduce tumor size and significantly reduce the risk of cancer. Natural lycopene is also found in pink grapefruits, and has greater effectiveness than synthetic lycopene.
Eating well is important when you’re being treated for cancer-or even if you’re just trying to reduce your risk. If you have cancer, some foods may upset your stomach. Choose foods that appeal to you and don’t cause such upsets. Also, eat smaller, more frequent meals so you’ll get a steady supply of energy.Try to avoid fatty meats, whole dairy products, and other foods with a lot of fat. Your diet should include a variety of foods with low fat, for example, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. These are high in fiber and vitamins wich helps eliminate toxins out of the body. Some studies also suggest that eating lots of very well-done meat (steak, bacon and hamburgers) can increase your risk for cancer, so you should try to eat less of these foods.
Snacking on pumpkin seeds and stinging nettle tea decrease the enzyme that creates dihydrotestosterone (the 5-alpha reductase). They also reduce inflammation and may dislodge the DHT from its cellular receptors which stops its effect on cell growth in the prostate area. Tea from the African plum tree is also recommended to inhibit the second enzyme called aromatase and almost completely squash the 5-alpha reductase.
Other foods, such as soy and flaxseed oil are also useful. Soy reduces the impact of the hormones in the vicious prostate cycle, and flax seeds are known for their effect on hormonal-dependent cancers because they contain lignans that block the hormones. Selenium, a mineral, is also recognized for its effect on cancer.
Tags: cancer, enlarged prostate, low-testosterone, prostatitis
