Archive for the ‘Prostate’ Category
Why Is Topical Vitamin D Needed by Seniors?
- Image by Denis Collette…!!! via Flickr
Recently the health reports in the media have contained a number of articles that promoted the benefits of vitamin D3 for seniors, because it contributes to inhibiting something like 27 age-related diseases. The preemptive aging benefits of vitamin D3 have been highlighted particularly for their ability to reduce the risk of disease such as cardiovascular disease and a number of age-related cancers particularly the hormonal based ones. As we age the ability of our skin to synthesize vitamin D3 from sunlight decreases so that by age 70 we only synthesize about 25% of the amount we did when we were in our 20′s. Fortunately seniors can access vitamin D3 in supplement form to make up the difference. This is good news for seniors who are concerned about their senior health.
Seniors who supplement with vitamin D3 can restore their blood levels of D3 to their youthful levels, but there is a problem. The vitamin D3 that is taken in supplement form is used by our bodies to help build and maintain strong bones. Our skin is the last organ to receive the vitamin D3 which is taken in supplement form. Fortunately for seniors there is good news to report on this matter. Vitamin D3 is available in topical form, so that it can be applied directly to the skin. Applied in topical form vitamin D3 will contribute to skin cell repair, growth and metabolism. It will help to destroy free radicals and stimulate the skin’s immune system. Applying vitamin D3 topically may provide a rejuvenating effect on aging skin.
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Preemptive Steps for Prostate Health
- Image by Stella Blu via Flickr
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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Can NAC Provide Cancer Chemoprevention?
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NAC is the acronym for N-Acetyl Cysteine which is a double-barreled health promoting compound. It has been known for forty years, but its multiple health benefits have only recently been identified and reported. It regulates the expression of scores of genes in those pathways that link oxidative stress with inflammation. In NAC’s second barrel it supports raising the level of an important antioxidant known as glutathione (GSH) which is particularly important for seniors who are concerned about fostering their senior health. With these dual effects NAC can provide a special role in the treatment and prevention of many common diseases. NAC can provide protection against avian and seasonal flu, improve insulin sensitivity in folks with metabolic disorders, battle the stomach infection Heliobacter, and block cancer development at nearly every step in the process.
Today the knowledge that there are strong links between oxidative stress and inflammation that lead to cancer make NAC an obvious choice for a compound that will provide cancer chemoprevention. NAC has many anti-cancer activities which aim at multiple targets resulting in layers of cancer protection against myriad cancers. It turns out that NAC is now available in supplement form. This information is very good news for seniors who are searching for preemptive means to promote their senior health by avoiding cancer in any form.
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Can Garlic Breath Save Your Heart?
- Image via Wikipedia
In common folklore wearing garlic is supposed to repel vampires, but in our workaday world consuming garlic may have a major health benefit. For some time garlic has been touted as food that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease is of particular importance to seniors. Previous research into how garlic contributes to cardiovascular health focused on its ability to help our bodies synthesize both NO and CO. Garlic apparently helps our bodies boost the levels of both carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) so that the heart is better protected against cardiovascular disease. This is good news for seniors who are searching for ways to take preemptive aging steps to foster their senior health, but there is even better news about garlic.
Recent research has discovered that garlic helps our bodies synthesize a third molecule known as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which is not as well known as the first two, but which your nose has probably detected. The H2S molecule gives off the familiar odor of rotten eggs. The H2S molecule is the one that is responsible for the infamous ‘garlic breath’ that appears after anyone has eaten anything containing garlic or its extracts. The small amount of H2S that is generated from eating garlic is not toxic and apparently has a beneficial effect on our cardiovascular health. Specifically the H2S molecule produces several physiological effects that benefit cardiovascular health including relaxing blood vessels, promoting the development of new blood vessels, and lowering blood pressure.
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Why Cancer Doesn’t Like Cruciferous Vegetables?
- Image by kthread via Flickr
When we were growing up our parents always told us to ‘eat our vegetables’, but at the time most of us ignored their advice, because typically we liked the taste of other foods more. Now it turns out that our parents were on the right healthy track and it is not too late for seniors to experience a conversion that will benefit senior health. The vegetables that are especially healthy for senior men are the cruciferous vegetables that include the well-known broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. They have been shown to provided a two-fold capability to to slow prostate cancer growth. This capability was documented at a meeting of a national cancer research association meeting nearly three years ago.
Over several decades numerous studies have reported the anticancer effects of the cruciferous vegetables. It turns out that when we cut or chew them compounds called isothiocyanates are formed that appear to be responsible for contributing to these benefits. Lab tests showed that one of the anticancer effects provided by these isothiocyanates is that they block the formation of the new blood vessels that cancer tumors need to grow. This is good news for senior men who may be looking for ways to slow down or halt the spread of prostate cancer.
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Are Onions Really a Super Healthy Food?
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Onions and their close cousin garlic have been used since ancient Egyptian times as an integral part of healthy diets and natural medicine. During World War II British and Russian soldiers in the field regularly used onions to heal wounds, because of their reported antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Today we know more details about the health benefits of onions, because many of the phytonutrients have been recognized for their value in the prevention and management of conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Two of the most important chemicals in onions are flavanoids and organosulfur compounds. The organosulfur compounds provide the strongs flavors and the flavanoids color the onions red, yellow, or brown. An outstanding property of onions is their ability to aid in the prevention and management of a number of cancers including prostate cancer.
Another important health benefit provided by consuming onions is they contribute a rich source of bioavailable quercetin. Quercetin is a flavanoid that may be very beneficial for cardiovascular health. Research results suggest that quercetin may contribute to preventing the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) thereby protecting against a major contributor of artherosclerosis. Recent research suggests that onions may protect against high blood pressure which is an important predictor of heart attack. This is good news for seniors who want to take preemptive aging steps to foster their senior health.
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Why Black Beans Are a Super Healthy Food
- Image by gtrwndr87 via Flickr
Why have black beans which are a plain simple food been a staple in the diet of folks in Central and South America for more than 7,000 years? It turns out that the folks in those regions figured out long ago that this plain simple black bean is a nutritional powerhouse. They are sometimes called the ‘poor man’s meat’, because by combining them with rice or corn which are complementary grains you get a protein that is low-calorie, but it is basically fat-free and full of a large range of nutrients. For example the polyphenols in black beans assist in preventing the oxidation of cholesterol which short circuits artheroschlerosis. This is good news for seniors, because blocking artheroschlerosis is a prime requirement for preventing cardiovascular disease.
In addition to the polyphenols, black beans contribute magnesium that improves circulation of blood and oxygen to the entire body which is another plus for senior’s cardiovascular health. The high fiber content of black beans helps to prevent heart disease and heads off digestive disorders. Their high folate content also helps guard against heart attacks. Finally, another major contribution provided by black beans is their high concentration of cancer-fighting antioxidants. This is certainly good news for seniors who are trying to find preemptive aging means to improve their senior health.
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Predicting Success for Prostate Cancer Surgery
- Image by Ian Samuel via Flickr
For senior men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer the decision about deciding to undergo surgery to eradicate the prostate is often a difficult decision for the patient and the doctor. Trying to decide if this type of surgery or other therapy is the best course of action depends in large measure on the probability that the procedure will be curative. If the cancer has already spread beyond the prostate gland, then the surgery will probably not cure the disease. In this case the doctors will not recommend surgery. In many cases the surgeon does not know the extent of the cancer prior to performing the surgery.
Fortunately a newly developed test has been identified that offers hope of revolutionizing the evaluation of cancer prior to deciding on a treatment. This new test measures the circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the bloodstream by both detecting them and allowing a genetic assay of them. The circulating tumor cells are the seeds that allow the cancer to spread or metastasize to other parts of the body. In recent tests patients suffering from prostate cancer who had PSA scores greater than 10 were tested using the CTC test. The ones who tested positive on the CTC test all had potential surgical failure, but those who tested negative on the CTC test showed greater than an 85% chance of a surgical cure.
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Senior Men Need Alpha and Gamma Vitamin E
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
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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