The prostate gland is liable to get enlarged and may even turn cancerous in men above the age of fifty. In fact cancer of the prostate is one of the leading killers in men. It is essential that men have an understanding of the prostate in good health and in bad health to minimize their chances of being a statistic.

The prostate gland is responsible to add volume to the semen. It is under the direct control of the male hormone Testosterone. The gland begins to enlarge in men above the age of fifty under the influence of a substance called as Di-Hydro-Testosterone (DHT) which is derived from Testosterone. The simplest means to prevent enlargement of the prostate and cancer is to adapt a diet that keeps the Testosterone levels low and also prevents the conversion of Testosterone into DHT.

Herbs form an integral part in the dietary modifications aimed at better prostate health. The herb Saw Palmetto prevents the conversion of Testosterone into DHT. Garlic and other herbs have anti-cancer properties and can be incorporated into the diet. One of the best agent that has been documented in preventing the prostate from getting enlarged and cancerous is LYCOPENE. Lycopene is found in abundance in tomatoes, tomato-based products like purees, pastes and sauces, watermelon, guava, and pink grapefruit.

Milk calcium is instrumental in inhibiting the synthesis of a form of vitamin D that reduces the chances of cancerous change in the prostate. Fructose, the sugar in fruit, stimulates production of that form of Vitamin D and inhibits tumors. Thus avoiding foods that contain calcium and a high intake of fruits can help prevent adverse changes in the prostate effectively. The prostate gland uses zinc much more than any other part of the body. Zinc alters the metabolism of steroid hormones to restrict enlargement. Pumpkin seeds are one of the richest sources of natural zinc. Barley, wheat, oysters, chicken and crab are some of the other foods rich in zinc. Nuts are an important source of Vitamin E and SEL.

It has been well established that diet plays an important part in the health of the prostate. The bottomline when it comes to a good prostate health is that one has to restrict red meat and dairy products and switch over to a prominently plant-based diet. Thus a healthy lifestyle incorporated from an early age will go a long way in preventing unwanted deaths from prostate cancer and also limit the sufferings from benign enlargement of the gland.

By: Rajgopal Venkataraman

About the Author: