Five ways to prevent prostate cancer

Recently, two very popular measures of protection against prostate cancer – the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test and vitamin E – were condemned by the scientists who make up the US Preventive Services Task Force. who discouraged routine screening for prostate cancer, as well as a recent study that concluded that high doses of vitamin E may actually increase—rather than decrease—the risk of developing this type of cancer. These two key news items have caused many men to ask, “Is there anything I can do to protect myself against this disease?”

And it is. And, fortunately, health-conscious men may already be taking some of the right steps to reduce risk. “Almost every conceivable behavior to keep your heart healthy is associated with a lower potential risk of developing cancer,” says Dr. Mark Moyad, director of preventive and alternative medicine in the department of urology at the University of Michigan Medical. Center (University of Michigan Medical Center).

Here are the best tips for a man to prevent prostate cancer, according to researchers and health experts.

Proper Diet: Beyond Marinara Sauce

For years, men who wanted to reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer were advised to eat more cooked tomatoes. Which are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that appears to fight tumors. Today, some health experts believe that changing your diet could reduce your risk of developing cancer by 30% to 50%. “But the advice needs to be more than just ‘eat tomatoes,’” says Stephen Freedland. A urologist at Duke University School of Medicine. He and other scientists are working to identify other foods that help protect against prostate cancer, as well as which foods to avoid.

Fish

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish—particularly oily varieties like salmon and mackerel—reduce inflammation, which appears to promote prostate tumors. In a recent study, men who ate fatty fish more than once a week reduced their risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer by 57%.

Green leafy vegetables

Eating several servings of spinach and other green leafy vegetables per week may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. According to a recent study by genetic epidemiologist John Witte and colleagues at the University of California, California. in San Francisco. Witte concluded that eating beans, squash, garlic, red bell peppers, berries, and orange melon might also help.

Coffee. According to a recent Harvard University study, men who drank at least six cups of coffee a day were 60% less likely to develop deadly prostate cancer. Fortunately, decaf coffee appears to be just as effective as the caffeinated variety.

Restrict the following:

• Simple carbohydrates. Candy and sodas, as well as starchy foods like white bread and white rice, are high-glycemic carbohydrates that trigger inflammation. According to a recent study, men who ate the sweetest, most carbohydrate-rich foods were 64% more likely to develop advanced prostate cancer.
• Corn oil. It is one of the main sources of omega-6 fatty acids, another cause of inflammation that can promote cancer, says Freedland.
• Well-cooked red meat. Well-cooked meats have many cancer-causing compounds, Witte explains. He recently completed a study showing that men who eat well-cooked meat (particularly hamburgers) several times a week may double their risk of developing aggressive cancer. The increased risk of developing prostate cancer, he believes, is specifically linked to the time or “cooking” of red meat: the more it is exposed to heat, the more carcinogens it forms.

Supplements: Be Cautious

If you’re still taking vitamin E to prevent prostate cancer, stop. There is no credible data to support that vitamin E or any other vitamin, mineral, or herbal medicine prevents prostate cancer, says Dr. Moyad, an authority on supplements and prostate cancer. He is about to launch a study on red yeast rice supplements conducted in high-risk men. Red yeast rice lowers cholesterol which recent studies suggest may promote prostate tumor growth. Be careful.

Drugs: Benefits And Risks

Some doctors prescribe the drugs Proscar (finasteride) and Avodart (dutasteride) for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. Which reduces the threat by an estimated 23%. These drugs, known as 5-ARIs (short for their chemical designation), are often prescribed to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate but have not been approved for cancer prevention by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The reason: Studies indicate that men who take 5-ARIs, who do end up being diagnosed with cancer, are more likely to develop a highly deadly type of the disease.

But some doctors argue that the increased risk may just be wishful thinking. Rather than causing deadly cancer, 5-ARIs may simply make it easier to detect the disease, says Dr. Neil Fleshner. A urologist at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto and a professor of surgery at the University of Toronto. These drugs shrink benign prostate tissue, explains Fleshner, which can increase the chance that a biopsy needle will find a small but serious tumor. Fleshner prescribes 5-ARI to men with elevated PSA levels and a family history of the disease. And other factors that increase their risk of developing prostate cancer.

Exercise: Do It Anyway

Although the general health benefits of exercise are beyond doubt, several studies have failed to show that it reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer. One possible explanation: Healthy men who exercise a lot may be more likely to be screened for prostate cancer. “Because they are more likely to be screened, they are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer early,” says Steven C. Moore, a researcher at the National Cancer Institute. This could mask any potential protective effect of exercise. In fact, Moore says, some researchers suggest that exercise may be protective against deadly forms of prostate cancer.

More Sex Or Masturbation

Finally, there is evidence that men who have frequent sex or masturbate often may reduce their risk of developing cancer. Possibly because ejaculation cleanses cancer-causing compounds that can build up in the gland. A study involving more than 29,000 male doctors and health professionals found that men who ejaculated at least 21 times per month reduced their risk of developing prostate cancer by up to 33%. Compared to those men who reported an average of four to seven ejaculations per month.

You may like to read Ten useful tips to prevent breast cancer