SIX STEPS FOR REDUCING THE RISK OF PROSTATE CANCER

Prostate Cancer refers to a kind of cancer which develops in a gland in the male reproductive system called the Prostate. Most of such cancers develop slowly growing, though there are also prostate cancers that are aggressive.  Apart from the prostrate, the cancer cells sometimes spread to other parts of the body, especially the bones and lymph nodes. The cancer may be painful, with problems in urinating, sexual intercourse, or erectile dysfunction. There are also more symptoms that can develop during its later stages. Below are six steps that can help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer:

1. DRINK MORE COFFEE: Regular, decaf, half-caf, whatever -it's all good, say Harvard researchers. They found that men who drank six or more cups of regular or decaf coffee were 59 percent less likely to develop advanced prostate cancer than those who eschewed the brew. More research is needed to determine what's in java that might make it beneficial, says study author Kathryn Wilson, Ph.D.

2. FOR MARRIED MEN, HAVE LOTS OF SEX: A 2004 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association analyzed data on 29,342 men and found that guys who had 21 or more orgasms a month were about 30 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer than those who racked up only four to seven a month. A possible explanation is . . . wait, who cares? Tell your wife it's doctor's orders.

3. EAT TOMATOES: For the 1,324th time, eat more cooked tomato products to reduce your risk of prostate cancer. This quirky link was first noticed in the 1990s by Harvard researcher Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., and subsequent studies have confirmed the power of edible red. Credit lycopene, a pigment in tomatoes that's more potent after they're cooked. Aim for two-plus servings a week.

4. REGULAR EXERCISE: Exercise reduces the risk of fatal forms of prostate cancer by 41 percent. What's more, among survivors of prostate cancer, those who exercised vigorously (playing tennis, running, swimming, or biking) for 5 hours a week had a 56 percent lower risk of death from the disease. "More activity is more protective," says lead researcher Stacey A. Kenfield, Sc.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health.

5. TOP OFF YOUR OIL: Fish don't have prostates -but if they did, we're betting they wouldn't get prostate cancer. In studies on lab animals, the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA in fish oil inhibited tumors. Plus, Harvard researchers found that men who ate fish three times a week reduced their risk of aggressive prostate cancer by 25 percent.

6. AVOID DOUGHNUTS: Men with the highest blood levels of trans fats have more than twice the prostate-cancer risk of men with the lowest levels. Trans-fatty acids increase inflammation and insulin resistance, both of which may play a role in prostate cancer. Avoid commercially baked doughnuts and cookies, as well as packaged baked goods containing hydrogenated oil.

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