Superfoods For A Healthy Prostate
A balanced diet may reduce your risk for prostate problems.
The prostate, which is part of the male reproductive system, is a gland that surrounds the bladder and urethra. It is about the size of a walnut and grows throughout a mans life. As you age, its important to maintain a healthy prostate. The gland can become enlarged, and prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men.
Theres no definitive evidence that good nutrition can prevent prostate problems, but eating a healthy balanced diet may reduce your risk. Building a meal and snack around veggies and fruit is a smart idea for health in general, and particularly a healthy prostate, says Chris Mohr, PhD, RD, nutrition expert for New York Times bestseller LL Cool Js Platinum Workout and advisory board member for Mens Fitness magazine.
Here are six foods you can eat to boost your prostate health.
Foods For Prostate Health
Below are suggestions of some foods that may shrink prostate gland enlargement or prevent other prostate problems, along with some to definitely avoid or reduce.
Its advised to keep your prostate happy to eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, along with legumes , and whole grains. You want to avoid foods that raise PSA levels, as these are antigens that may signal prostate cancer. Some of these foods include:
- Red Meat
- Canned Foods and High-salt Content Foods
- Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners
- Heated Oils
Men who want to build muscle may want to know that there are many foods that may be otherwise considered healthy but can be bad for prostate health. For example, are eggs bad for the prostate? Yes, according to NCBI research, eggs are high in choline and cholesterol, both of which are associated with prostate cancer.
What about peanuts, which are high in protein? Is peanut butter good for prostate health? As a Harvard Health article explains, peanut butter can be a food with a good type of fat, monounsaturated fats. However, be sure to buy the natural type without added sugar, salt, and hydrogenated oil.
Red Meat And Processed Meat
A diet high in meat, particularly if its cooked well-done, may be associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. This may be due to heterocyclic amines . These are carcinogens found in cooked meat. HCAs have been linked to the development of several cancers.
HCAs are compounds formed during high temperature cooking such as broiling or grilling. The suggests that both red and processed meats may be associated with increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Examples include:
- beef
Instead of red or processed meats, try these protein sources instead:
- lean poultry, like skinless turkey or chicken
- fresh or canned fish, such as tuna, salmon, or sardines
- beans and legumes, like split peas, chickpeas, lentils, pinto beans, and kidney beans
- nuts and nut butters
If youre a fan of cold cut sandwiches, try making a chicken salad sandwich instead. You can also experiment with meat alternatives, like tofu or tempeh, which can be marinated and sautéed to create a flavorful sandwich filling.
You may also experiment with eating meat-free for some meals or days of the week. Here are some ideas to try:
- Replace the meat in your favorite chili or stew with beans.
- Grill up fish fillets instead of steaks.
- Make a black bean burger instead of a hamburger.
- Dice up tofu and marinate it in your favorite sauce, then stir fry it and mix it with veggies and a side of rice.
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Tips For Trimming Fat From Your Diet
Reducing the amount of animal fat in your diet may decrease prostate cancer risk. Here are some ways you can trim the fat off your diet:
- Read food labels. Notice the amount of fat your food has in it but also pay attention to the serving size. Eating 2 servings of a food doubles the amount of calories and fat you take in.
- Limit spreads that are high in fat. These include:
- Butter
- Cream cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Certain salad dressings. Try lemon juice or balsamic vinegar and herbs on salads instead of high-fat bottled dressings.
Do Peanuts Prevent Prostate Cancer Death
- Posted on:
- May 8, 2017
Crunchy or creamy? Shelled or unshelled? Roasted or boiled? This is usually about how deep one gets when discussing peanuts and peanut butter. The humble peanut might just get a lot more important to men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Peanuts have been around for probably more than 3,500 years. Ancient South American pottery has been discovered decorated with, and in the shape of peanuts. Peanuts became popular around the American Civil War, and many know George Washington Carver as the father of the peanut industry.
So how did the peanut get to this point where it is being touted as a preventative against prostate cancer death?
A major 2016 study published in the British Journal of Cancer showed that patients who consumed nuts five or more times per week after a prostate cancer diagnosis had a significant 34 percent lower rate of overall mortality than those who consumed nuts less than once per month. It is important to note, however, that increased or decreased nut consumption has no correlation with preventing malignant tumors. The men who were followed in the study had already been diagnosed with the prostate cancer.
These findings are quite interesting. This study is suggesting that the peanut and other tree nuts might just help prevent prostate cancer-related death in men who have received a prostate cancer diagnosis. The study suggests consuming five, one ounce servings each week. One ounce of nuts is about one good handful.
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Issues Concerning The Prostate Gland
Due to its location the prostate can affect urination and sexual functions.
- Prostatitis is an inflammation or infection which causes burning and pain during urination, the urgent need to urinate, and painful ejaculation.
- BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia is the enlargement of the prostate. Men find it difficult to urinate because the prostate is pressing on the urethra. It is believed 75% of men over 60 suffer with this condition.
Peanut Butter Can Be Good For Weight Loss
It sounds like a dream that comes true, does it? Lets take a look at the nutrient profile of peanut butter. Then well see why it could be beneficial to add peanut butter to your diet.
A 100 g of peanut butter contains:
- Carbs – 20 g, of which 6g are fiber
- Protein – 25 g
- Potassium
- 588 calories
In fact, peanut butter contains 39 % of the recommended daily amount of magnesium and 79 % of the needed amount of manganese. Its also rich in protein. We can say that protein is the fundamental building material for our cells. It breaks down to amino acids, which are used by our cells.
Magnesium is good for your muscles, bones, and immunity. It helps you regulate blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Its also excellent for your heart.
Potassium, on the other hand, helps your heart and nerves to function properly. Its useful for countering the effects of sodium on your body, too.
As you see, peanut butter is nutrient dense food. As such, it has a place in your diet.
But, 588 calories are a lot, so how could it be useful for weight loss? Well, it contains a fair amount of fiber 6 g. A diet rich in fiber makes you feel full. So, eating peanut butter will diminish your appetite, and youre going to eat less. In this way, youll compensate for the extra calories.
Fiber is also perfect for your digestive system, and it keeps constipation away.
Astudy in 2013 claims that children that consumed nuts peanut butter includes- were less likely to become overweight or obese.
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What Is Peanut Butter
The website Wikipedia describes peanut butter as a food paste or spread made from ground, dry-roasted peanuts. It often contains additional ingredients that modify the taste or texture, such as salt, sweeteners or emulsifiers.
That description pretty much hits the nail on the head. Peanut butter is so basic that you can make it yourself. Simply toss some roasted peanuts into a food processor and process until a thick, creamy paste forms. You now have peanut butter. Search the internet for how to make peanut butter and youll come across plenty of recipes. Some recipes may suggest adding some salt and/or honey, for example.
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How To Healthily Consume Peanut Butter
While peanut butter is sometimes considered one of the healthy foods that arent healthy, peanut butter actually can be healthy. Heres how to make sure the peanut butter you eat actually helps your body.
1. Buy Organic
First, when you buy peanuts, make sure you buy a certified organic brand and, ideally, a type of a peanut called Valencia peanuts or Jungle peanuts. These peanuts are typically not grown in the moisture of the ground theyre usually grown in bushes off the ground or higher up, and that eliminates the issue with mold.
In addition, Valencia peanuts contain monounsaturated fats that lower triglycerides, and they have all nine essential amino acids and the antioxidant resveratrol. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radical damage produced during everyday bodily functions, such as eating and exercise.
2. Consume with Omega-3 Foods
The second thing that can actually make peanuts healthy for you is if you consume omega-3 fats with them. You can add in a little bit of beneficial flaxseed oil or take an omega-3 fish oil supplement when you eat peanut butter, and of course, you should always consume plenty of omega-3 foods.
If you get plenty of omega-3 fats in your diet and you arent allergic then you really dont need to worry about eating peanuts.
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The Best Diet For Prostate Cancer Prevention
One change you can make? How you eat.
Exactly how big of a role diet has in prostate cancer risk remains to be seen, but we know that certain foodslike red meathave been tied to a greater risk for the disease. Adjusting your diet is an easy way to manage your prostate cancer risk, says Benjamin Jacobs, MD, a hematologist and oncologist at Riddle Hospital, part of Main Line Health.
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Tips For Nutrition During Cancer Treatment
- Maintain a healthy weight. For many men, this means avoiding weight loss by getting enough calories on a daily basis. For men who are overweight and are obese, this may mean losing some weight. If you are trying to lose weight, it should be moderate, meaning only about a pound a week.
- Get essential nutrients the body needs, such as protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, such as carotenoids, and water. Not only will your body function better, you will feel better.
- Be as active as you can, such as taking a daily walk. If you sit or sleep too much, you may lose muscle mass and increase your body fat, even if you are not gaining weight.
If you are struggling to eat enough or are eating too much, nutrition counseling may help you get essential nutrients, such as protein, vitamins, and minerals into your diet and maintain a healthy body weight. Ask your health care team for a referral to a registered dietitian or nutritionist. Dietitians and other members of the health care team work with people to meet their nutritional needs.
Androgen Deprivation Therapy/hormonal Therapy
The hormone testosterone allows prostate cancer cells to grow. In androgen deprivation therapy, testosterone is blocked through medications such as leuprolide . Another way of reducing testosterone levels is through orchiectomy . A possible side effect of hormonal therapy is weight gain. Following the healthy diet guidelines in this resource, watching portion sizes, and exercising, if possible, can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Testosterone also helps keep your bones strong so lower levels of testosterone may lead to increased risk of osteoporosis and broken bones. Protect your bones by including calcium in your daily diet.
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Prosnut Butter For Prostate Health
This post may contain affiliate links which wont change your price but will share some commission.
I often write about women’s health, but then you know that! It’s time to share a little gem for the men in our lives. Prosnut Butter is one of my favourite concoctions to support Prostate Health! As with many things in life, I don’t think that there’s a “it’s too early to start” moment. Why not just incorporate great habits as soon as we can embrace them, which is bound to help us all in the long run! Prosnut Butter for Prostate Health — explore this idea!!
Why wait until a diagnosis of BPH or benign prostate enlargement?? Why not simply introduce a delicious NEW effective and ‘ultra yummy’ condiment, that is highly effective?
No prescription necessary. Grab your pens or print this out for all the men in your life!Guess what? This ideas doesn’t come with warnings of erection loss, ejaculatory issues or decreased libido!
Saw Palmetto berries ~ dried
Thanks to James A. Duke PhD and his research, there’s an easy recipe, especially for our men, that may cause some ‘eye-rolling’ but eventually –> gratitude. Jim called it “Prosnut Butter” and it’s been around for a long time. Check out his book The Green Pharmacy: The Ultimate Compendium Of Natural Remedies From The World’s Foremost Authority On Healing Herbs for lots of great ideas!
*recipe For Black Bean And Corn Soup
- 28-ounce can of low-sodium crushed tomato and basil
- 8 ounces of low-sodium tomato juice
- 16-ounce can of rinsed black beans
- 16-ounce can of rinsed white beans
- 16-ounce can of rinsed kidney beans
- 16-ounce can of sweet corn
- 1 teaspoon of dry oregano
- ½ teaspoon of rosemary
- ½ teaspoon cracked red pepper flakes
Mix ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Serves 4.
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The Best Way To Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk
Unfortunately, there is no treatment, technology or prevention strategy that can completely eliminate your prostate cancer risk. A prostate cancer screening is still the most effective way to detect and treat cancer in its earliest stages.
If you have questions about prostate cancer screenings or about your prostate health, make time to see your health care provider, especially if its been awhile since your last appointment. A provider who knows your health habits and personal and family health history can help you determine whether or not you should be screened.
Main Line Health serves patients at hospitals and health centers throughout the western suburbs of Philadelphia. To schedule an appointment with a specialist at Main Line Health, or use our secure online appointment request form.
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12 Easy Ways to Reduce Inflammation Overnight Eat a salad every day. Keep a package or two of leafy greens on hand to toss in your lunch bag or on your dinner plate. Avoid getting hangry. Go to bed. Spice things up. Take a break from alcohol. Swap one coffee for green tea. Be gentle to your gut. Consider a fast.
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Find Your Body Mass Index
BMI is a measurement of the amount of fat in your body based on your height and weight. It can help you learn if your weight is healthy or not. A healthy BMI for an adult is between 18.5 and 24.9.
30 or higher | Obese |
You can calculate your BMI using the tool on this website: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm. You can also find your BMI on the BMI table below. To use the table:
For example, if youre 5 feet, 5 inches tall and you weigh 168 pounds, then your BMI is 28. This means youre considered overweight. Your goal should be to achieve a BMI that puts you in the normal range.
If your BMI is above 25, look for the weights that correlate with a healthy BMI for your height. That should be your target weight.
Keep in mind that BMI is only one health measure. Other measures include waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference, which look at weight in your abdominal area. Extra weight in the abdominal area is associated with an increased risk for certain illnesses, even in people with a normal BMI.