Foods for Keeping Your Prostate Healthy

Foods for Keeping Your Prostate Healthy

Prostate health is a concern most men will begin to consider at some point of their life. Effecting nearly 90% of men by the age of 70, Benign Prostatatic Hypertrophy (BPH) is a condition where one’s prostate becomes enlarged and causes urinary difficulties and complications. Prostate cancer is also a concern for many men, especially for those which have prostate cancer in their family. However, there are ways to help ensure prostate health, especially if you begin healthy habits early on in life. It has been shown that consuming certain foods can lower the risk for prostate cancer and hypertension. Here, Dr. Elist reviews a few prostate super-foods you can add to your diet to help keep your prostate healthy.

Vegetables For Prostate Health

Eat your vegetables! We all know that fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C, however not all vitamin C is created equal. Not only are vegetables also an excellent source of vitamin C, but the kind of vitamin C which vegetables contain lowers your risk of prostate hypertrophy (enlargement). Broccoli, kale, and especially bell peppers are a great source of BPH fighting vitamin C, so add them to your diet today!

Sesame Seeds Helping with Prostate

It has been shown that men with Prostate cancer or BPH have lower levels of an essential mineral called zinc. Zinc, which is more readily absorbable from food than from dietary zinc supplements, can be found in abundance in sesame seeds, oysters, pumpkin seeds, almonds and spinach.

Tomatoes and Prostate Health

Tomatoes are technically a fruit, and like most fruits they contain high concentrations of vitamin C. However, what sets tomatoes apart from other fruits (and vegetables for that matter) is that they contain a high concentration of Lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant which can help prevent multiple kinds of cancer, including Prostate cancer. It is easier for our bodies to extract the lycopene from cooked tomatoes, so try adding cooked, pureed, or even tomato juice and ketchup to your diet.
 
Simple lifestyle modifications, including healthy dietary habits, can significantly reduce your chances of BPH or prostate cancer. If you, or someone you know, may have questions regarding prostate health, feel free to contact Dr. Elist’s office today. With early screenings, healthy lifestyle choices and an open line of communication with your physician, you can live a long and prostate healthy life!