How Healthy is Your Prostate?

If you’re a man over 60, prostate health might be at the top of your mind. And it should be.

There is a lot of information out there about how quickly prostate health can disintegrate, and for those moving on in years, your prostate is something to keep an eye on. And to be honest, it’s hard to forget about. Waking up to pee during the night, a slow or weak stream, or trouble urinating can all symbolize troubles of an enlarged prostate.

Of course, those symptoms don’t necessarily mean you’re doomed either. As long as you’re staying on top of your tendencies and allowing your doctor to keep a watchful eye, an imperfect prostate doesn’t mean a dangerous one.

Aside from medical screenings and other tools to measure prostate health, there are some things you can do to lower the risk of a more severe problem developing.

Food choices:

The food you eat has a close association to prostate health. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, and trying to include leafy greens or broccoli with nearly every meal, can reduce the risk for a troublesome prostate. On the other hand, charred and processed meats can put prostate health at risk. Some specific foods that may have unique benefits for the prostate include:

• Leafy greens
• Salmon
• Tomato
• Berries
• Broccoli
• Nuts
• Citrus fruits
• Onions
• Garlic

Sunlight:

Although you don’t want to sit outside and bake in the sun all day, giving yourself some unprotected time in the sun may help keep your prostate healthy. Spending about 15-30 minutes in the sun without sunscreen allows your body to produce vitamin D, which can promote a healthy prostate.

Watchful waiting:

Some symptoms of a slowing prostate may cause worry, but might not be cause for concern. Meet with your doctor and be prepared for them to suggest “watchful waiting.” This means you’ll be asked to keep an eye on things and notice if your condition worsens or improves. Some things you might be asked to do include:

• Avoid fluid consumption in the evening
• Minimize carbonated and caffeinated drink intake
• Reduce or eliminate alcohol
• Sip beverages slowly
• Urinate when you first get the urge
• Go the bathroom on a schedule
• Empty bladder entirely when in the bathroom

Prostate health can be dicey and a very slippery slope if you’re not careful. Keep a watchful eye, adopt positive lifestyle changes, and don’t get stressed if you’re not necessarily functioning like you used to.