Archive for the ‘Health’ Category
Preemptive Steps for Prostate Health
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Here is some good news for senior men who are concerned about taking steps to promote their prostate health. We can take a health tip from the dietary practices of the men in Western Europe. They have lower rates of prostate cancer than we do in the USA. Recent research appears to point to a number of the items in their diet. We have all heard about the Mediterranean diet, but this research identified some very specific staples in that diet that supported prostate health. These staples appear to provide powerful defenses against prostate cancer. Two of the leading defenders of the prostate are both garlic and scallions. In a recent study in a national cancer journal it was reported that men who ate ample amounts of scallions or garlic on a daily basis reduced their risk of contracting prostate cancer by 50%. The organosulfur compounds in both vegetables are credited with providing the key to defending the prostate.
The fermented juice of the red grape are loaded with resveritrol which is an antioxidant that is found in several plants. Researchers think that it is the antioxidant in resveratrol that inhibits the growth of prostate cancer. For those who like a glass of wine with their meal the researchers suggest no more than two glasses, in order to get the benefits of the resveratrol. More than two glasses could negate the the benefits of the resveratrol. Fortunately for those who do not like to consume wine, resveratrol is available in supplement form which will provide the same defense against prostate cancer.
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Pomegranate Seed Oil Fights Cancer
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The benefits of pomegranate juice and pulp have been well documented for their ability to help combat a wide range of degenerative diseases. Two of the leading diseases include cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer. Recently researchers have discovered that other parts of the pomegranate plant can confer significant health benefits. for example the extracts of pomegranate flowers provide excellent protection against type 2 diabetes and many of the collateral effects of obesity. It turns out that pomegranate seed oil provides powerful chemoprevention against reproductive cancers.
In particular pomegranate seed oil is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme aromatase that produces estrogen from testosterone. As men age the balance of high testosterone to low estrogen tends to become inverted which fosters the growth of prostate cancer. Pomegranate seed oil reduces the amount of testosterone that can be converted to estrogen in older men which promotes their prostate health. Pomegranate seed oil provides another health benefit, because it greatly inhibits the proliferation of human prostate cancer cell lines by interrupting the cell growth cycle and also by inducing cell death known as apoptosis. Thirdly it greatly suppresses the invasion of cancer cells. Finally when pomegranate seed oil is teamed with other pomegranate components it acts synergistically to suppress prostate cancer proliferation and matastasis more effectively than any of the components alone.
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Senior Men Need Alpha and Gamma Vitamin E
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When folks are younger taking multivitamin supplements that contain vitamin E as one of the vitamins, the supplement usually lists the alpha form of vitamin E which is the most important component for that age group. It turns out that there are a number of other components found in natural food sources of vitamin E. When we age and enter our senior years our bodies change and the vitamin supplements that enhanced our health when we were younger may not enhance our health, but may even degrade it. This is definitely the case with the alpha component of vitamin E. Recent research has shown that senior men need to supplement with the gamma component of vitamin E as well as the alpha component, in order to maintain prostate health.
In one recent large scale test that was designed to resolve the issue of whether or not vitamin E helped to promote prostate health and to preempt prostate cancer the result was negative. That particular test used the alpha component of vitamin E which is why the test produced a negative result. Other research has shown that senior men need to consume the gamma component of vitamin E along with the alpha component in order to promote their prostate health. A number of foods such as asparagus, avocado, almonds and sunflower kernels contain the full spectrum of vitamin E components. Senior men would be well advised to add these foods to their diets or to use supplements that contain the full spectrum of vitamin E including both the alpha and gamma components.
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Increasing Prostate Awareness
Over the course of a lifetime, more than one in five males will have medical issues with their prostate. It’s important to be aware of potential risks of improper prostate health, and also to take precautions to ensure the well-being of your prostate. Ironically, maintaining a healthy prostate begins as easily as most other health improving practices; balanced diet. It’s important to avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol, and also to be sure to eat green vegetables when possible.
You can also increase prostate health by taking various vitamin supplements designed for men of all ages. The prostate can repair and prevent future damage with a correct allocation of vitamins and minerals.
Can Phytoestrogens Aid Senior Health ?
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Phytoestrogens are food sources that provide targeted health benefits over and above the basic nutritional value found in other foods. Some have been shown to preempt aging, particularly in the case of age-related diseases. For example the isoflavones, which are a major class of phytoestrogens and lignans, which are another major class, have been studied and shown to reduce the risks for heart disease, osteoporosis and certain cancers for the folks that consumed them. Lignans are found in significant quantities in a variety of foods including whole grains, vegetables, legumes and berries. Lignans are found in flax seeds and sesame seeds, too. The lignans in sesame seeds provide a synergistic effect with vitamin E to provide an anti-aging effect.
One study in the British Isles found that men with the highest consumption of lignans had the lowest incidence of prostate cancer. Parallel studies in Europe of postmenopausal woman who consumed a greater amount of lignans in their diet showed a reduced risk of breast cancer. A similar result was found in the case of pre-menopausal women; those with the highest consumption of lignans showed the lowest risk for breast cancer. This is good news for seniors, both women and men, who are looking for dietary means to preempt aging and improve their senior health.
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Latest Word About the PSA Prostate Test?
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For a number of years men over 50 years of age have been urged by their doctors to get a PSA blood test to help diagnose the condition of their prostate. Very recently the American Cancer Society recommended changing the emphasis from it would be a good idea for men over 50 to get a PSA test to consider the potential risks of treatment before making the decision to get a PSA test to screen for prostate cancer. The reasoning supporting this change of emphasis was based on the trade off between the negative side effects of PSA screening versus the positive benefits of avoiding the test. For example a slightly high PSA blood test may detect prostate cancer, but it can be a false positive. Conversely men with apparently normal PSA scores actually have had cancer, but the test indicated that they did not have cancer. The high PSA score typically was followed by a biopsy and treatments that had negative side effects that included urinary incontinence and impotence.
For these reasons the American Cancer Society made the recommendation that men who do not have special risks of prostate cancer should take counsel with their doctors, in order to reach an informed decision about getting screened for prostate cancer. The American Society of Clinical Oncology, which represents cancer specialists, including those treating prostate cancer patients, is supporting the Cancer Society guidelines. This is good news for senior men who are about to reach the age when they need to be concerned about the health of their prostates.
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Lignans Contribute to Preventing Prostate Cancer
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For senior men effectively reducing their risk of prostate cancer requires a multi-pronged approach. What is presented here represents one major prong that emphasizes the nutritional side of prostate cancer risk reduction. For example in Asian countries such as China and Japan most men have healthy prostates. By comparison US and European men have ten times the rate of prostate cancer. Multiple research studies indicate that diet greatly influences the risk of contracting prostate cancer and dying from it. In Japan and China folks consume a lot of fruits, vegetables, grains, and seeds. These foods are rich in plant lignans. Western diets are generally low in plant lignans. Lignans definitely appear to help prevent and treat prostate cancer.
The way lignans work to help prevent prostate cancer is described as follows. After the lignans enter the digestive system they are converted into what are called lignan metabolites or enterolactones that help our bodies prevent prostate cancer. Enterolactones are known to protect against hormone-dependent cancers. Several very precise studies in Europe showed that men with the highest level of enterolactones in their blood were more than 80% less likely to have prostate cancer. A parallel study reported a 60% less likely number. A third study in the US confirmed the results of the two European studies. This is very good news for senior men who are concerned about their prostate health. In addition to the lignan rich foods that are referenced above supplements are available to enhance the effect of the plant lignan rich foods.
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Prostate Cancer Risk Reduction for Seniors
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Men entering their senior years have an increased risk of prostate cancer. The good news is that a number of preemptive aging steps can be taken that will reduce that risk. Many factors contribute to the risk of senior men contracting prostate cancer, but changes in lifestyle and nutrition can provide protection against it. Lowering the risk increases the probability of escaping protate cancer. For example diets that are high in Omega-6 and saturated fats increase the risk, but the Omega-3 fats found in fish oil decrease the risk. Adding plant foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, and soy protects against prostate cancer and numerous other diseases.
Adding key supplements to senior’s diets can further reduce the risk. Vitamin D has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Vitamin E was used with selenium in an extensive study that produced a negative result in terms of preventing prostate cancer. Fortunately for senior men an analysis of that study revealed that only one component of vitamin E, the alpha component, was used. Other studies have shown that the gamma component of vitamin E is needed to balance the alpha component. Seniors can add both components by means of supplements or by adding foods that are rich in all the components of vitamin E. For example almonds, sunflower nuts and asparagus provide the full spectrum of vitamin E.
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Senior Men Need Complete Vitamin E
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Good health requires good nutrition which includes all the standard vitamins including vitamin E. Vitamin E is an active antioxidant that protects vitamins A and C as well as selenium and fat compounds from being oxidized. Good food sources of vitamin E include almonds, asparagus, avocados, spinach and other green leafy vegetables as well as wheat germ and eggs. The food sources contain the full spectrum of compounds that make up vitamin E. These eight compounds are known as tocopherols and they are labeled starting with alpha through theta in the Greek alphabet.
The alpha component is typically included in multivitamins. One large scale study that was designed to show that vitamin E would help to prevent prostate cancer produced a negative result. The study used the alpha component of vitamin E. It turns out that senior men need to consume the gamma component of the vitamin E tocopherol for their good senior health particularly their prostate health. Recent research results appear to indicate that senior men who are not getting the full spectrum of eight tocopherols, particularly the gamma component, may not be doing their prostates any favors. This is why senior men need either to consume foods with sufficient vitamin E or to take special supplements that contain the full spectrum of all the vitamin E tocopherols.
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Will Coffee Reduce the Risk of Prostate Cancer?
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One of the leading causes of death among senior men is prostate cancer. Taking preemptive steps to prevent or at least reduce the risk of contracting prostate cancer has a high priority for senior men who are seriously concerned about safeguarding their prostate health. A number of foods have previously been identified that provide a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer. Among the foods that reduce the risk are cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower, green tea and tomato products containing lycopene. Recently another food was identified as providing a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer.
In a large scale study of about 50,000 participants that was conducted over a period of twenty years, coffee consumption was shown to have a modest effect in protecting against prostate cancer. More significantly, when the researchers studied how much the effect of coffee consumption reduced the risk of advanced and aggressive prostate cancer they found that it reduced the risk by more than 55% for men who drank the most coffee. This latter result has not been confirmed by additional studies, but it suggests that drinking coffee in large amounts may very well reduce the risk of advanced and aggressive prostate cancer.
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