| The prostate is a walnut sized gland at the base
of the bladder that encircles the urethra, the tube through which
urine is ejected. The prostate produces prostatic fluid, which makes up
the bulk of the male ejaculate and both nourishes and transports the sperm.
Cancer of the prostate gland is the second leading cause of cancer
death among men. it is primarily a disease of aging.
Men in their 30's and 40's rarely develop prostate cancer, but the
incidence increases steadily after 55 years of age. Approximately 80% of
all cases occur in men over the age of 65, and by the age of eighty, 80%
of all men have prostate cancer to some degree. The American Cancer
Society estimates over 244,000 new cases of prostate cancer were
diagnosed in the year 1995 alone. During that year, 40,400 men died from
the disease. A male baby born today has a 13% chance of developing
prostate cancer at some time in his life, and a 3% chance of dying from
the disease. Some experts believe that every man will eventually develop
prostate cancer if he lives long enough. Although it is relatively
common, in most cases prostate cancer is, fortunately, a slow
growing cancer. Most prostate cancers arise in the rear
portion of the prostate gland; the rest originate near the
urethra. On average, prostate cancers double in mass every 6
years. Symptom include: one or more of the following: pain or
a burning sensation during urination, frequent urination, a
decrease in the size and force of urine flow, an inability to
urinate, blood in the urine, and continuing lower back,
pelvic, or suprapubic discomfort. However, the disease often
causes no symptoms at all until it reaches an advanced stage
and/or spreads outside the gland. In addition, these symptoms
most often are caused not by cancer, but by benign enlargement
or inflammation of the prostate. Professional evaluation and
diagnosis is therefore necessary.
Prostate cancer in the USA is increasing. In
part, this is due to the aging of our population. Just a
generation ago, the life expectancy for white men in the
United States was 65 years; today, it is close to 80 years.
However, the rate of prostate cancer is rapidly rising in all
men, even those under age 50. This is significant because, in
general, the younger a man is when he is diagnosed with
prostate cancer, the worse his prognosis. The increase in
prostate cancer among younger men points to the role of diet
and exposure to environmental toxins in the development of the
disease.
African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate
cancer, while Asian-Americans have the lowest. Men with a
family history of prostate cancer also run a higher risk of
developing the disease. The incidence is higher among married
men than it is among unmarried men. Also at increased risk are
men who have had recurring prostate infections, those with a
history of venereal disease, and those who have taken
testosterone. Researchers have also found a link between a
high-fat diet and prostate cancer. This may be due to the fact
that heavy fat consumption raises testosterone levels, which
could then stimulate growth of the prostate, including any
cancer cells it may be harboring. Exposure to cancer-causing
chemicals increases risk as well. Some experts believe that
vasectomy may increase a man's chances of developing prostate
cancer. Poor diet and nutrition most likely also play a role
as men often have very poor eating habits with little of no
fruits and vegetables, and no supplementation by vitamins or
herbal formulas.
|
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
|
Pygeum |
10 |
is an herb from Africa that has been shown very effective against
Prostate problems and it works well with the herb Saw
Palmetto in an herbal blend. Some Male Herbal formulas have
both as well as many other to help balance male
body chemistry. Pygeum may actually prevent
prostate cancer. |
| Saw Palmetto |
9 |
herb that is especially beneficial to
men's health and it helps prevent prostate problems. |
| Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin E,
vitamin C, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium
which all are helpful for enlargement of the
prostate or prostate cancer. These nutrients are also required
for general good health and well being. |
| Selenium |
8 |
powerful free radical scavenger and also
aides in protein digestion. Normally found in a
good quality mineral multi-vitamin supplement. |
| Beta Carotene |
8 |
powerful anti-oxidant that helps destroy free
radicals. Make sure that your beta carotene supplement comes
from natural fruits and vegetable sources. Men
often are not eating enough fruits and vegetables
which adds to their risk of prostate enlargement or cancer. |
| Shiitake |
9 |
The shiitake
mushroom stimulates a person's immune system to produce more
interferon, which is a natural compound that fights viruses
and often used as a treatment against cancer. |
| Pomegranate
seed extract |
9 |
strong anti-oxidant |
| Lycopene |
9 |
lycopene has been shown to lower
risk of prostate cancer |
| Carotenoids |
9 |
powerful natural antioxidants work
with vitamin A |
| vitamin
A |
9 |
antioxidant that helps destroy
free radicals and promotes healing |
| vitamin
C |
9 |
powerful anticancer agent |
| Bioflavonoids |
9 |
work with vitamin C |
| vitamin E |
8 |
vitamin E is a powerful healing
agent and also enhances sexual health |
| B
vitamins |
9 |
the entire B vitamin family helps
with healing, circulation, stress relief, and to build red
blood cells. See vitamin
B12 , vitamin B3, and vitamin
B6 |
| L-carnitine |
8 |
protects against
free radical damage and toxins in the body and
often in combination with omega
fatty acids that work well for people suffering from prostate
cancer or related problems.. |
| Methionine |
8 |
is an amino acid which acts as a detoxifier
to help protect the liver and other organs of the body. |
| Zinc |
8 |
men need the mineral zinc for
healthy sexual and reproductive systems |
| Garlic |
8 |
garlic has been
shown to benefit to
those with prostate problems.. |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|
