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Five Tips That Boost Prostate Health
You rarely gave your prostate much thought, but as you grow older, you become increasingly aware of just how troublesome this small gland can be. From an enlarged prostate to prostate cancer, you want to steer clear of these problematic conditions as best you can.
We have the same goal for you here at our practice, which is why Dr. Robert Cornell and our team of men’s health experts wanted to present a few tips that will support the health of your prostate.
Prostate 101
Your prostate is a small gland that’s primarily responsible for producing seminal fluid, which safely carries sperm. The location of this gland is one of the reasons why your prostate can cause problems — it’s wrapped around your urethra.
Despite its relatively minor role in your health, your prostate can develop cancer — in fact, prostate cancer affects one in eight men during his lifetime, making it the most common cancer among men outside of skin cancer.
Other than cancer, the other common problem is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which affects half of men between the ages of 51 and 60, and this number only grows with age.
While developing cancer and/or BPH is hard to control, there are some steps you can take to ward off these developments.
Tips for prostate health
If you want to keep your prostate as healthy as possible, there are a few good rules of thumb you should follow, including:
1. Eat your fruits and vegetables
The effect a nutritious diet has on your health is almost without limits, and this includes your prostate health. If you eat more fruits and vegetables, you’re adding more cancer-fighting antioxidants to your system. Enjoy fruits and veggies that are rich in color, like berries, broccoli, tomatoes, and dark leafy greens.
You’d also do well to steer clear of animal fats that negatively impact your cardiovascular health and instead turn to fish, which contains ample amounts of omega-3 fats. These nutrients support your health on every level, including your immune system.
2. Maintain a healthy weight
Carrying extra pounds can tax your body and its ability to maintain optimal health, especially when it comes to warding off cancer. While studies are inconclusive about a direct link between obesity and prostate cancer, they suggest that abdominal obesity may be associated with prostate cancer, especially aggressive prostate cancer.
3. Get your exercise
Exercise benefits your body in myriad ways and may support good prostate health. One study among 30,000 men found that those who exercised regularly were less likely to suffer from BPH.
4. Hydrate adequately
When you have an enlarged prostate, it closes in around your urethra, making urination difficult. To ensure that your urinary tract continues to function well, we suggest that you drink plenty of water to keep everything flowing smoothly and the passageways open. It’s important that you stick with water as you create a diluted form of urine that passes more easily.
5. Get your prostate checked regularly
This last point is an important one when it comes to prostate health. By having us regularly monitor your prostate, we can stay one step ahead of prostate disease and take steps to offset any symptoms that develop. For example, we can prescribe alpha-blockers, which keep your urethral channel open by relaxing the muscles.
As well, through regular screening, we can identify the early signs of prostate cancer and take the appropriate steps.
If you have more questions about prostate health, please don’t hesitate to contact our office in Houston, Texas, to set up a consultation.
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