In the year 2008 alone over 180,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although the death rate has been on the decline over the past few decades, the disease still accounted for over 26,000 deaths in 2008. Although this disease is prominent amongst all races and ethnicities, African American and Caucasian men represent the highest percentage of cases in the United States. Prostate cancer mostly affects older men with about 80% of the cases occurring in men over the age of 65. Although prostate cancer tends to occur in men over the age of 60, men should start making appropriate lifestyle changes much earlier in life to avoid being diagnosed with prostate cancer when they get older.
Here are some tips for men who wish to reduce their chances of being diagnosed with prostate cancer:
• Eat lots of tasty fruits and vegetables! Tomatoes, watermelons, pink grapefruits, guava and papaya contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels’ sprouts, bok choy and kale also are good choices.
• Quit smoking. How does smoking lead to prostate cancer? Smoking throws off your hormonal balance, creating an environment more conducive to tumor growth. Also, tobacco is a source of cadmium, a heavy metal that interacts with zinc found in the prostate, which leads to prostate cancer. This human carcinogenic metal inhibits DNA repair in your body, which allows cancer cells to mutate and multiply.
• After the age of 50 you should get an annual PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam to make sure you haven’t developed any of the early stages of prostate cancer. I you are an African American or have a brother or father who had prostate cancer, you should begin to get check ups at the age of 45.
• Reduce the amount of high-fat foods you eat. Research carried out by the Mayo Clinic in the United States has suggested that a diet high in saturated fats may result in a higher possibility of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Get some sun! Spend 15 minutes a day in the sun (without sunscreen protection) or take 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D per day. Geographic areas with the least sun exposure have the highest rates of prostate cancer.
• Eat plenty of fish. There’s growing evidence from animal and laboratory studies that omega-3 fatty acids (especially the so-called long-chain omega-3s found in fish) help stop the development of cancer. A Swedish study showed that men who ate no fatty fish (such as salmon and tuna) were two to three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than men who ate fish regularly.
Living a healthy lifestyle and early prevention are two keys for men looking to reduce their chances of having prostate cancer. Although the disease isn’t the death sentence it used to be, it is still very dangerous and is a leading cause of impotence in men. Although the disease normally affects older men, if you change your lifestyle habits in your youth, it can have tremendous health benefits when you get older.
