Prostate Health
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I’m sure you’ve noticed some of those annoying signs that come with aging. Gray hairs, slowing metabolism and more aches and pains are just a few things that tell you that your body ain’t the same as it was in high school.

 

These changes are normal parts of the growing older and don’t really pose any risks to your health. But as you age there are things you need to be aware of that can take guys like us out of the game permanently.

There’s been a lot of publicity focused on the health of our prostates and rightly so. Approximately 300,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in American men every year and of that number, around 35,000 die from prostate complications.

 

Your prostate is both a gland and an organ that sits just below the bladder and wraps around your urethra. Its main functions are to close the urethra during ejaculation and add special fluid to your sperm before it exits the body.

When things go wrong with your prostate it can affect both your ability to urinate as well as have sex. And while these problems might seem like something that you can live with, remember that in many cases, your prostate can become cancerous.

 

There are three main problems that can develop in your prostate.

• Infection – Also known as prostitis, this infection causes pain, fever and urinary problems. An infection can be serious if ignored, but it’s generally treated with prescription medications like antibiotics.

 

• Enlargement – Symptoms of an enlarged prostate are primarily centered on urinary function. Either you can’t go, go too often – especially in the middle of the night, strain to begin urinating or experience significant dripping afterwards. Some guys frequently feel the urge to go, but don’t really have to. Simply put, these symptoms suck, but aren’t life threatening.

 

• Cancer – The Big C is especially dangerous because many of the symptoms of a cancerous prostate are the same as an enlarged prostate. Too many men ignore those symptoms and when they finally see a doctor it’s too late.

 

Your diet affects your entire body and it’s always a good idea for overall health to minimize fatty meats, salt, hydrogenated oils, coffee and pasteurized dairy foods. If you want to keep your prostate in top shape you need to be eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fish, (salmon, mackerel and cod) whole grains and legumes (peas, beans and lentils).

 

There’s quite a bit of research that suggests that saw palmetto can shrink an enlarged prostate and that kelp, because it’s rich in iodine, can treat, and possibly prevent, prostate cancer.

 

Asian men who eat diets rich in kelp have much lower rates of prostate problems than their American counterparts.

 

And lastly, green tea is proving to be a real ‘wonder drug’. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, which are known to help ward off cancer.

 

A healthy diet and exercise should already be part of your lifestyle, but just because you’re eating well and keeping fit doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be having regular checkups with your doctor.

 

 

Look, no one likes to have their prostate checked. It’s truly a pain in the ass (pun intended), but do yourself and your loved ones a favor. Get to your doctor, assume the position and get the news.

A few minutes of discomfort now really can save you from a lot of pain – and possibly death – later.