Monday, July 9, 2012

The Truth About Prostate Cancer Warning Signs


By Dan Ho

Prostate cancer warning signs...

Every man should be concerned about their prostate's health.
Indeed, for men not paying attention to it, it can be deadly as prostate cancer comes second only to lung cancer with respect to cancer-caused deaths for American men...and is near the top for Canadian men as well.
Prostate cancer is also the most common type of cancer for men in the United States. Tens of thousands of new cases are diagnosed yearly.
Although there is most likely a hereditary component to your chances of getting prostate cancer, like many things in life, a lot of it comes down to choices you make, such as taking quality prostate health promoting supplements and eating food for good prostate health.

Prostate cancer warning signs

Although the aforementioned prostate statistics don't seem to be good, the truth of the matter is that if prostate cancer is detected early, treatments are often very successful and chances of surviving are very high.
Therefore, one of the best things you can do other than take the necessary supplement and dietary steps to promote good prostate health is to have what is called a PSA test (prostate specific antigen tests) done every year. It doesn't take long and it's not painful so don't put it off.
The drawback of the PSA test is that it isn't perfect in what it reveals.
Now, what about prostate cancer warning signs?
Well, unfortunately, prostate cancer does not really give off any warning signs.
In addition, another confusing aspect is that most of the possible warning signs, if they appear, are also the same signs for other prostate health problems that are non-cancerous in nature, such as BPH, which is called an enlarged prostate gland.
However, these signs are still worth mentioning.
The following are some potential prostate cancer warning signs or signs of BPH:
  • incomplete emptying of the bladder 
  • dribbling 
  • difficulty starting urination 
  • reduced force of the stream 
  • frequent urination of small amounts 
  • pain with urination 
  • ejaculation pain 
  • blood in the urine

Dietary and Supplement Protocols

Although saw palmetto is touted as the best herb to take for prostate health, it actually isn't. Something called Beta sitosterol is much better. Here's why:
Even the best Saw Palmetto supplements are comprised of 99% fatty acids and 1% sterols. The sterol component is where the therapeutic benefit lies (hence the name Beta Sitosterol).
In short, by taking Beta Sitosterol, you will be getting only the active component of Saw Palmetto that is responsible for its medicinal properties. Beta sitosterol is literally thousands of times more powerful than saw palmetto.
Other beneficial nutrients and supplements include: lycopene, pygeum, stinging nettle, and cornsilk.
With respect to food for good prostate health, recent research by the authoritative US National Cancer Institute revealed that men who consumed more than 1/3rd of an ounce of onions, scallions, garlic, chives per day were much less likely to have prostate cancer.
In conclusion, don't wait for prostate cancer warning signs or signs of other prostate problems to show up before you do anything about it.
On the other hand, if you are already experiencing possible signs of prostate problems, don't panic.
This is a very treatable condition if caught in its early stages. Just make sure you take appropriate action and talk to your doctor about it right away so you don't become a statistic.

Overcooking your meat may cause Prostate Cancer


Summer is almost here and now is the time we all start getting the barbeque grills out of the garage and get ready for the big Memorial Day weekend barbeque.  This will be the start of a long, hot summer filled with delicious meals cooked on our favorite grills.  On thing we must be careful of is not to overcook and char our meat on the grill.  A recent study had put a direct link to charred meat and prostate cancer.

For several years doctors and scientists have known about the dangers of the connection between overcooking meat until it becomes charred.  A compound that is formed when the meat becomes charred is called PHIP.  This compound has been found to cause the growth of prostate cancer in lab rats.

The meat has to be charred enough where the edges are blackened and almost totally burnt.   Most barbequer's would throw this meat in the garbage and take their chances with maybe the potatoe salad and this would be the healthier choice.  The reaserchers contend that we follow some simple grilling guidelines and everything will go well and be healthy:

  • Always cook on a clean grill, use a wire brush after and before placing any meat on the grill
  • cook meat over a low flame, this method provides for a better cooked piece of meat anyway
  • make sure to turn the meat several times if the flames get to intense
  • always remove charred pieces of meat especially around the edges

How To Avoid Prostate Cancer Naturally


It’s much better to avoid any form of cancer than to try and treat it after it has appeared. Prostate cancer, however, is usually a slow growing form of cancer which responds well to treatment.
The first step in prostate cancer prevention is to improve your general health. Weight should be within the normal range for your height. If you are very overweight, see your doctor for advice and eat a healthy diet which is low in fatty or sugary foods. This combined with daily exercise such as walking and swimming should help.
Drink lots of water - water is vital for health. It prevents hunger and flushes toxins from the body. Six to eight glasses a day is ideal and tea and coffee doesn’t count towards this!
Cut down on alcohol. There’s nothing wrong with the odd drink, just don’t make it a daily habit.
Lycopene - found mainly in tomatoes is an antioxidant which has a proven beneficial effect on prostate health. Studies have shown that men who consume large doses of lycopene have a much lower incidence of prostate cancer.
Lycopene is not destroyed by cooking and is hence found in tomato sauce, tomato paste and in all your favorite Italian dishes!
Isoflavones found in soy beans and it’s products such as soy milk or tofu has a balancing effect on the body’s hormones. Isoflavones can counter excess testosterone which can lead to prostate cancer.
Beta-carotene found in carrots and other brightly coloured vegetables can stimulate T-helper cells which prevent the development of cancer.
Selenium is an extremely important micro nutrient which is only needed in tiny amounts. Selenium can be found in certain foods, but the soils in many areas in the world are deficient in this mineral and the food cannot absorb this mineral. Supplements are beneficial is this case.
And last, but not least, a person’s mental disposition can have a direct effect on the health of the body. Emotions such as anger, stress and depression can have a damaging effect on the immune system and can lead to diseases such as cancer or heart problems.
Try to let go of these damaging emotions. Practice relaxation exercises or learn Yoga or qigong. Qigong is a wonderful set of Chinese breathing exercises which can heal disease, whether physical or emotional, and allow you to experience great health.
So adopting certain changes of diet, ensuring you take supplements and keeping your emotions positive can all help in the prevention of prostate or indeed any other form of cancer.
By Wendy Owen