The prostate is a small gland in the male genitourinary system, which can bring a lot of pain and discomfort to any man. Depending on the type of prostate issue, one can experience:
- abdominal pain;
- increased urge to urinate;
- pain and burning during urination;
- weak urine stream;
- difficulty to start passing urine;
- bloody urine or semen, etc.
Such symptoms may signal prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or prostate cancer.While the first two can be dealt with and bear no health risks, the latter may take aggressive forms, thus leading to death. Based on the statistics provided by the National Health Institute, it is the leading type of cancer in men in the US.
What Does Food Have to Do with Prostate Health?
Researchers suggest that certain foods can influence prostate health either positively or negatively. As for the latter, the foods that are generally recommended to avoid by men suffering from such issues include:
- red meat, especially cooked with vegetable oils;
- processed food, such as canned food, fast food, and others;
- alcoholic beverages;
- baked sweets;
- eggs, and some more.
On the other hand, keeping to a healthy diet may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer as well as soothe the BPH symptoms and signs of chronic prostatitis.
So what food should one eat to preserve the organ healthy for as long as possible and minimize the risks of developing prostate cancer? Based on the medical recommendations, we’ve selected a list of foods that may be helpful for a man taking care of his male health.
Fruits and Vegetables
Whenever anyone starts talking about healthy foods, fruits and vegetables come around. This time, they also open the count for healthy diet choices. Loads of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients present in fresh veggies are definitely useful for anyone’s health. But, speaking about the male health, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and other cruciferous vegetables appear to be the most beneficial.
Tomatoes are cherished for their high lycopene content. Lycopene is an antioxidant, which helps to prevent the development of cancerous cells as well as halt their growth in men who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Veggies, like cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are rich in sulforaphane. Studies suggest that this chemical reduces prostate cancer cell growth, allowing men to stop the development of the disease. Other studies claim sulforaphane also works for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Green Tea
If you like tea, you’d better prefer green tea. Aside from its nice taste, this drink can also promote your prostate health. The reason is the presence of polyphenols in green tea. These chemicals possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic effects.
The primary reason green tea is so beneficial for male health is its ability to prevent carcinogenesis in cancerous processes. The tea inhibits the growth of the malignant cells and so promotes better recovery prognoses.
Along with being a potent weapon against prostate cancer, green tea also helps soothe the symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is known to produce numerous health benefits. It is a great source of monounsaturated fats. Also, it has anti-inflammatory properties and works as an antioxidant. The presence of olive oil in your diet allows avoiding the majority of prostate disorders.
Like green tea, olive oil contains polyphenols, which can soothe inflammation in the prostate gland, thus diminishing the lower urinary tract symptoms that are the main disturbing factor for men with an enlarged prostate. The Prostate Cancer Foundation recommends using extra virgin olive oil for the most benefit.
Sea Fish
Omega-3 fatty acids are among the crucial components for the healthy functioning of our bodies. We receive them exclusively from the diet as our bodies do not produce them. The best source of Omega-3 fatty acids is fatty sorts of sea fish, such as salmon, trout, herring, sardines, and others.
Sufficient consumption of foods rich in Omega-3 is linked to reduced risks of aggressive forms of prostate cancer and a drop in the mortality rate among individuals fighting prostate cancer.
If you are not a fan of fish, you can substitute the supply of Omega-3 and other essential fatty acids by taking supplements.
Food for Prostate Health – Bottom Line
The prostate rarely bothers men before they turn 50. However, it’s important to take care of it long before it sends the first signals of something going wrong. We all know that prevention is always better than treatment. And while we cannot influence other factors promoting prostate issues, like family history, genetics, and age, we can definitely take control of what we eat and make sure we do all possible to stay healthy.
By enriching your diet with diverse healthy foods, such as vegetables and fruits, and eliminating the products that may be harmful, you can live a better quality of life when other men will already have to face the reality of prostate enlargement or other problems related to this organ.
