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.
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.
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.
