Daily changes to lifestyle have an enormous impact on prostate health. Here is a list of 46 changes to make today! (Well, you don’t have to do all of them today but try and do as many as possible)
46 Things to AVOID for Prostate Health
Calcium supplements
Smoking
Overweight/obesity
Alcohol (2 drinks per week maximum)
Excess caffeine
Red and processed meats
Fast food
Trans fats
Saturated fats
Excess omega-6 fatty acids
Refined/processed foods
Foods high in sugar
High-fat foods
Atkins diet (and other high-protein, low-carb diets that promote fats)
Excess salt
Fried foods
Charred meats
Animal products that contain hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides (nonorganic meat and dairy foods)
Microwave popcorn
Dehydration
Acrylamide (carcinogen found mostly in French fries, potato chips)
Exposure to BPA (bisphenol A, found in plastics, food cans)
Exposure to pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other environmental chemicals
Excessive multivitamin/mineral use (“mega-dosing”)
Supplements that contain fillers and additives
Chondroitin (use glucosamine instead for joint health)
Synthetic hormone therapy (ask for bio-identical hormones)
Artificial colors
Artificial sweeteners
Artificial flavors
Protein supplements
Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines
Self-diagnosis (if you are experiencing prostate symptoms, see your doctor)
Trauma to the perineal area (e.g., uncomfortable bike seat)
“Holding it” (delaying urination promotes urinary infections)
Poor genital hygiene
Unprotected sex
High blood pressure
Urinary tract infections
Lack of sleep
Sitting around (exercise regularly)
Excess emotional stress
Social isolation
Putting off getting your PSA checked
Putting off talking to your doctor about erectile dysfunction
Putting off talking to your doctor about urinary tract problems
Send us any comments or additions with supporting studies and we will make sure to add to the list!
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2 Comments
A lot of the actions you’ve listed, that might lead to prostate cancer, are good for avoiding poor heart health, but don’t have proven benefits for avoiding prostate cancer. I particularly doubt that being on a low-carb diet will foster prostate cancer or for that matter, even heart illness. As a matter of fact being on the
Atkins diet or other low-carb eating programs will probably avoid toxicity associated with anti-androgen deprivation to fight advanced prostate cancer. As a recent Duke U. study demonstrates, “a low-carbohydrate Atkins diet will prevent or at least minimize the metabolic consequences of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)” such as insulin resistance, which can raise diabetics’ blood sugar levels. (Cited from a study of 90 men, reviewed at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00932672.)
However, I concur that smoking and avoiding exercise are big no-no’s as I’ve mentioned at my blog, conquerprostatecancer.com. It might be helpful if your list started with these behaviors along with other adverse actions or inactions to be avoided most to help reduce prostate cancer risk, before presenting behaviors that are less likely to foster prostate cancer.
–Rabbi Ed Weinsberg, EdD, DD
Thanks for your comments. Its a list and everybody has one and all the items are backed by clinicals or research specifically in regards to prostate cancer or cancer generally. Personally, if anybody wants to follow the Aitkins Diet then there is nothing that this blog can offer them except an early funeral. We are all about a lifestyle approach to wellness which is bigger than one or two changes and involves a commitment to overall health. If you have read the Aitkins Diet you will agree that sausage and bacon is not a recipe for a healthy prostate. We are not talking about a low carb diet, we are talking about a diet that avoids the saturated fats and poisons associated with a hormone laden meat based diet which is arguably a key factor in the 60% obesity and illness rates in the US. And in reviewing the list actually every single component of it has a direct impact on prostate health as part of an overall wellness approach to living. I have never met a doctor let alone a urologist or nutritionist that would advocate the Aitkins Diet as part of a program for prostate care or who would advise anyone with a disease to actually DO the things that we suggest you avoid. As for limiting your risk factors see http://www.prostate.net/blog/2010/101-ways-to-love-your-prostate/ Thanks for stopping by.