Prostate Diet
Prostate hyperplasia and Prostate cancer : health,risk and diets -Prostate gland is an exocrine gland associated closely with the male reproductive system. The function of this gland is to secrete a fluid which is one of the constituents of the semen. Secretions of the prostate contribute to nearly 30% of the semen volume.
The alkaline nature of the secretion serves to neutralize the acidity of the vaginal tract thereby protecting the sperm. Secretions of the seminal vesicle also contribute to the alkalinity of the semen. But research has shown that the sperms ejaculated with the prostatic secretions have longer survival rates and increased motility.
A normal or healthy prostate gland in adult males can weigh anywhere between 7-16gms,averaging 11gms generally. It is located just below the urinary bladder surrounding the urethra. It can be felt by a rectal examination.
Prostate Hyperplasia
The condition of an enlarged Prostate is referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It should not be mistaken for cancer.Prostate enlargement is a very common feature associated with aging in men.
90% of men above 80 years of age develop hyperplasia while a small population of males over 40 is known to have this condition
The actual cause is unknown but factors responsible for aging could lead to the development of this condition. Another cause is the levels of the testosterone. Some studies also point to malfunctioning of valves in spermatic vein and nature of hormonal functioning of testicles. However these are incomplete studies and much work needs to be done
Symptoms:
There are two types of symptoms classified as storage and voiding.
Storage symptoms:Frequent urination; urgency to urinate that cannot be deferred; incontinence; urination at night.
Voiding symptoms:Straining to urinate , incomplete urination, dribbling, intermittent urination and sometimes pain and dysuria.
Diagnosis:Rectal examination ;ultrasound; urine and blood test to rule out inflammation due to infection and ensure that it is benign; biopsy to in case urine and blood tests are inconclusive.
Managing this condition:
Decrease fluid intake before bedtime.
Moderate the consumption of alcohol, caffeine and other such diuretics
- Food that can provide zinc is advised. Shell fish, oysters wheat germ, pumpkin and squash seeds, dried watermelon seed are suggested.
- Intake of Vitamin C makes urination faster.
- Foods such as fruits, soy, whole grains as well as salmon, sardine that are rich in Omega-3 oils may be incorporated into the diet
- Saw palmetto supplements. Saw palmetto is a palm tree, whose berries are have medicinal values Dietary supplements derived from dried berries are believed to inhibit the actions of testosterone on the prostate that causes prostate enlargement. However the effect of this supplement is not universal and recent studies doubt its efficacy.
Prostate cancer:
When the prostate enlargement is not benign but a malignant growth then the condition is the cancer.There are different types of cancerous tumors, some growing slowly and remaining unnoticed as well as confined to the gland, while others become aggressive, growing quickly and spreading to other areas, thereby shortening life expectancy.
In American males cancer of the prostate gland is the second most common form of cancer.It is believed that diet and lifestyles can have a significant impact .
There are not clear cut indications of which type of diet can prevent prostate cancer. But there are some emerging ideas and trends that are shared below .
Foods that have been linked to cancer:
Consumption of fatty foods, particularly dairy products and red meat are linked to prostate cancer:
In 1993, The Harvard School of Public Health published a survey. It revealed that men who had in their diet 89 grams of fat daily had nearly twice the risk for advanced prostate disease as those who consumed only 53 grams daily.A survey of more than 51,000 American men in the age group 40-75 found that Red meat appeared to be a greater risk factor than other high-fat foods
A diet high in dairy products is implicated in cancer :
In nine separate studies,high consumption of milk or dairy products showed consistent link with prostate cancer.In A follow-Up study, it was found that men who drank two or more glasses of milk a day were found almost twice as likely to develop metastatic prostate cancer as those who didn’t drink milk at all.Analysis of the study showed Calcium to be the culprit
Food that may prevent occurrence of Cancer :
There is evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce risk for prostate cancer
Vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables are protective in nature. Vitamin E and Selenium were found to be helpful in a study conducted by Finns
Lycopene present in Tomatoes are considered protective to prevent cancer. An epidemiological study by Harvard in 1995 found that 10 servings of Tomato based food per week are considered to reduce the risk by 45% while men who consumed 4-7 such servings had the risk reduced by 20%
Quercetin, a flavonoid abundant in apples, onions, black and green teas, and red wine, is beginning to show promises as yet another protective source.
Some suggestions :
- Organically sourced food would be the ideal for all items given below
- Carbohydrates containing antioxidants, such as apples, avocados, bananas, beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cherries, corn, cucumbers, grapes, mangoes, oranges, oregano, peaches, peanut butter, pears, peas, peppers, plums, turmeric, walnuts, and zucchini
- Grain such as traditional oats , barley, and wild rice – Instant oats to be avoided.
- Freshly brewed green, white, red, or black tea .
- Fresh fruit/vegetable juices – suggested are carrot, grapefruit, pineapple juice, apple or tomato
- Flounder, sole, salmon, tilapia, anchovies, and sardines – Here too where they are sourced is important.
- Moderate quantities of dark chocolate.
To conclude it may be said that researchers have not found anything concrete to link prostate cancer with life style but evidence is beginning to emerge on the protective nature and connections with diet.
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