How a Healthy Diet Can Protect a Man’s Prostate
Dr. Dan Sperling
If you’re a guy, do you often think about your prostate gland? The likely answer is, not so much. You’re not alone. Unless there’s a problem, it’s usually out of mind because it’s out of sight. A normal prostate gland is about the size of a walnut, and it’s tucked below the bladder in the pelvic bed. It’s easy to ignore or overlook. However, it is essential for successful reproduction, and adds to your sex life. Therefore, this small hidden gland is very much a part of manliness and quality of life!
For example, a normal aging-related condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) causes prostate enlargement, which can obstruct urination or more frequent nighttime peeing that interrupts a good night’s sleep. An infection or inflammation can lead to painful prostatitis. In turn, this can interfere with erections. Most importantly, the gland can develop prostate cancer, the most common non-skin cancer in men. When caught early, this disease is very treatable—but whole-gland prostate cancer treatments like surgery or radiation come with the risk of urinary, sexual or bowel side effects. Thankfully, today there are minimally invasive treatments that target just the tumor, such as Focal Laser Therapy. Since this approach preserves healthy gland tissue, it’s more important than ever to follow treatment with an impeccably healthy lifestyle to help prevent cancer recurrence!
Thus, making sure that the prostate gland is as healthy as possible increases the chances that its owner can be free from pelvic problems and preserve maximum masculinity. And, an essential way to preserve prostate wellness is to eat a healthy diet.
A diet for prostate health
It may seem surprising that a man’s diet has a bearing on how well his prostate gland behaves, but much research has been devoted to this topic. Experts agree on three basic facts:
- A diet that is good for the heart also happens to be good for the prostate.
- The typical “Western diet” (high in red meat, fried foods, processed foods, etc.) is bad for the heart because it sets up chronic systemic inflammation throughout the body, including the prostate and surrounding tissues. Inflammation is linked with obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Prostate inflammation is scientifically associated with developing prostate cancer.
- On the other hand, a diet like the Mediterranean diet works against chronic inflammation, helping protect against heart disease and even helping prevent prostate cancer.
Diets that are proven to act against stressful internal inflammation are, to a large extent, the opposite of the Western style of eating. They are characterized by
- Primarily plant-based foods like colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts
- Minimal intake of red meat (preferably less than once a week)
- More fish and poultry (preferably at least twice a week)
- Replace butter with healthy vegetable fats such as olive oil and canola oil
- Use herbs and spices instead of salt
Plants in particular are rich in minerals and molecular compounds. These nutrients are like Mother Nature’s medicines, so they are called nutraceuticals. According to published research, the Mediterranean diet (and similar diets) offers anti-oxidant properties that nourish the entire body, including the prostate gland. This has a protective effect against prostate cancer. Also, reducing animal protein while eating more fruits and veggies makes natural lycopene and zinc available, shown to help protect against BPH. You probably already know that these same ingredients fight against obesity and diabetes. This shows the dietary synergy between heart health and prostate health.
In short, if you want to have the best possible prostate gland (not to mention the likelihood of living to a ripe old age in terrific physical and mental health), start making the transition to a heart-healthy, anti-inflammation diet. Many internet articles offer tips for taking small, manageable steps. Transforming your lifestyle in small bites (sorry, no pun intended) increases the chances for lasting success!
What’s good for the prostate is also good for the planet
Each man’s health is his own personal priority. On the other hand, some readers may be inclined to take an additional global view. Think about these two important points:
- Most nitrogen pollution in wastewater is due to animal-based protein sources and inefficient agricultural practices, both of which lead to acid rain and toxic algal blooms that cause dead zones of aquatic life.
- Dietary choices are the largest driver of chronic diseases.
In the big picture, the Western diet not only endangers your heart and your prostate, the production and consumption of this dietary style impacts the earth’s interconnected systems. Moving in a plant-forward direction in your meals is an indirect contribution toward decreased pollution, reduced food scarcity, and even impacting climate change. In this line of thinking, taking dietary care of Daddy’s prostate also helps Mama Nature.
Remember, you only have one prostate gland, so treat it to the healthiest diet possible. Your prostate, your heart, and even the Third Rock from the Sun will thank you.
