There are many reasons you want to take care of your prostate now that you’re aging. One is that it’s one way to help avoid cancer and other health risks associated with this gland. Another is that it helps delay or prevent erectile dysfunction.
Taking steps to maintain prostate health could be worth the time and effort. If you aren’t sure if your prostate is healthy, it’s time to see your primary doctor or another medical specialist as soon as possible. But even if you feel fine, every man 40 or older needs to take steps to maintain prostate health.
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Do Research and See a Specialist
The hardest part about maintaining prostate health isn’t the information. The hardest part is knowing where to get the information and how to act on it. Many people have questions about prostate health, but they don’t know where to get the answers or which treatment options are safest. For instance, your doctor can answer questions about natural prostate cancer treatment solutions and other options available. Together, you and your doctor will formulate the most promising plan of attack possible.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for your health, but it’s key to keeping your prostate healthy. If you’re overweight, you’ll have higher levels of testosterone, which acts upon the prostate and promotes inflammation, both of which affect prostate health.
Know Your Risk and Get Tested
If you’re 40 or older and have multiple positive family history factors, get tested twice a year. If you’re African-American, you’re at higher risk of developing the disease, but men of all ethnic backgrounds should know their risk and get tested appropriately.
Avoid Stress
Stress can affect digestion and other parts of the body, including the prostate. This can cause numerous problems with your emotional well-being and sleep cycles. Stress has also been proven to increase blood sugar and harmful cholesterol levels, wreaking havoc on the prostate.
Eliminate Alcohol and Caffeine
Many men are diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), causing them to fear prostate surgery later in life. Like with many other diseases, it’s simply a normal part of aging in most cases. But the best prevention for BPH is avoiding alcohol and caffeine, which can cause constriction and inflammation of the prostate.
Quit Smoking
Giving up smoking can dramatically improve your quality of life. It can also reduce bad cholesterol and testosterone levels, which will protect your prostate in many ways. With this in mind, quitting smoking is essential for optimum prostate health.
Reduce Consumption of Red Meat
This is a controversial one due to the saturated fat content in red meat. But some studies suggest that eating less meat, mainly processed meat, can reduce the risk or slow it down.
Hydrate Daily
Maintaining adequate hydration throughout the day is essential for your overall health. Thus it’s vital for the health of your prostate. Just one night of not drinking enough water can significantly increase the flow rates and toxins released by your prostate.
Maintain a Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet can be important, but it’s especially critical for prostate health. Many men think healthy foods are high in fiber and low in calories.
Exercise Regularly
Maintaining a healthy exercise routine can improve your overall health, but it can also help keep your prostate healthy. Men who exercise regularly tend to have better prostate health than their sedentary counterparts. Exercise can reduce the risk of many diseases, including prostate cancer. It can also reduce the risk of prostate enlargement by as much as 50%.
Increase Magnesium Intake
Magnesium is a crucial nutrient that works with vitamin D to create hormones that help keep your bones healthy and strong. And it’s essential for your health in general, including your prostate health! Maintaining adequate levels is very important because it allows healthy protein-building.
If you’re a man over 40, you want to maintain your prostate health. By following these tips, you’ll be better prepared to reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer and other health conditions that are more common with age.
