Men Only

Us men aren't great talking about 'man things' (even worse than we are talking about 'women things'!), but here goes.

Many of us men do not know where our Prostate Gland is or indeed what it's function is, yet, although prostate cancer can only affect roughly 50% of the population, it is the 3rd most common cancer.

The prostate gland is about the size of a large walnut (in it's shell!) and sits beneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra - the tube through which we urinate.  It's one and only function is to produce and store seminal fluid, the fluid that mixes with sperm to form semen.

There are 3 main conditions that can impact the prostate - enlargement, inflammation and cancer.

Some degree of enlargement will impact about 30% of men by the age of 50 and 90% by the age of 80. It is an entirely normal aspect of ageing however it is linked to problems with weak flow of urine and a general feeling that peeing is no longer fully in your control.  Increased night time bathroom visits can lead to sleep deprivation.  Some good news is that several nutrients from the diet can reduce the risk and extent of enlargement and help alleviate some of the impacts.  Three of the most important are vitamin C, lutein and beta-carotene - so get munching on those greens, eggs and brightly coloured fruits and berries and root vegetables.

Inflammation results from some form of prostate infection - fungal, bacterial or can also be a result of stress, irritable bowel syndrome and just general poor gut health.  This obviously requires medical attention and can be treated with antibiotics or antifungal medications.

Of course, prostate cancer is the most worrisome one and some men are at greater risk than others owing to genetics and ethnicity.  Early intervention is vital as late diagnosis has a dramatic impact on survival rates.  There are other risk factors beyond the above. Overweight and obese folk are at greater risk of developing many of the most common cancers, and prostate cancer is no exception.  Calcium intake - there is evidence that excessive consumption of calcium, particularly via dairy, might be linked to a slightly increased risk of developing prostate cancer.  High levels of cholesterol are also linked to prostate cancer, although it is unclear which comes first - prostate cancer and then an increase in cholesterol or the other way around.

Good news, is that an increasing number of men are getting themselves more regularly checked by their GP.  This needs to grow more and medical science continues to develop more accurate and non-invasive indicator tests.

Also, there are a number of dietary items that can help reduce the risk of prostate problems.  I mentioned a few above, but the list below is more comprehensive.

I touched on the carotenoids and vitamin C above.  In particular, lycopene is a carotenoid which seems to offer a worthwhile degree of protection against prostate conditions.  Lycopene is found in red peppers, guava and watermelon but the humble tomato has the highest level amongst fruits and vegetables.  It is easier to absorb when warm so anything that contains cooked tomatoes is an ideal source.  Who said Pizza wasn't good for you!

Indole-3 carbinol and sulforphane are naturally occurring plant chemicals that have been shown to aid in reducing the spread of prostate cancer to other parts of the body.  These are found mainly in cruciferous vegetables - broccoli, Brussels sprouts (yuk!), kale, pak-choi and cauliflower.

Catechins are flavonoids found in high concentrations in green, white and oolong teas.  They have received a lot of research focus as prostate conditions are far lower in Asia than in the West and there is strong evidence that catechins inhibit a protein that is found in cancerous cells.

Selenium is a mineral that is contained in a very powerful antioxidant and there is evidence that foods containing selenium can help in reducing the risk of prostate cancer.  Selenium is common in fish, nuts, chicken and mushrooms.  Care must be taken not to supplement selenium as the body only requires small amounts.

As reflected above, a balanced healthy diet with a good mix of fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish and meat will provide the necessary risk-reducing nutrients.  All that might be added to this is the odd cup of Oriental tea.