Ensuring prostate health

Prostate cancer is diagnosed in an estimated 80 percent of men who reach the age of 80. But whether you’re 18 or 80, the health of your prostate should always be a concern.

While male life span is on the rise, men still suffer from more chronic conditions and have higher death rates for all 15 leading causes of death like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and pneumonia.

The prostate is an organ located at the base of the urinary bladder. In a young man, the gland is the size of a walnut. During the normal aging process, however, the gland grows larger and can cause a benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH. This condition and prostate cancer cause similar problems like difficulty in urination and other discomforts.

The good news is there are new medical research and natural treatments to keep your prostate healthy.

Food intake plays a major role to keep your prostate healthy.

Drinking a cup of soymilk every day inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells due to its high isoflavone content. Consuming fiber and lycopene-rich food, while reducing the intake of fats, also offer protection. Supplementation of adequate selenium and Vitamin E shows correlation with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.

In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, those who exercise, burning more than 800 calories a day, did not have BPH. The authors concluded that exercise protects against the development of clinical BPH.

From the age of 50, it is recommended to get a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam every year. For those with a strong family history of prostate cancer, testing should begin at the age of 45. Diagnosing prostate cancer or its symptoms in the early stage gives you a good chance of winning against it.

According to a journal of Planta Medica, natural herbs like saw palmetto, stinging nettle and flower pollen extract offer therapeutic efficacy and favorably safety profile in treating BPH and other lower urinary tract symptoms. Further studies also suggest that saw palmetto may help prevent prostate cancer.

There are many food supplements available in the market today that contain these ingredients and help improve urinary flow and decrease inflammation associated with BPH.

The latest is the US-manufactured Maxus Prostate Plus that contains a combination of saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil.

It also has zinc gluconate, an essential mineral important in prostate function, and Pygeum africanum, used in treating BPH and prostatitis.

With regular use, Maxus Prostate Plus may gradually help reduce symptoms of painful urination and inflammation. For product information, contact 816-6306.