Men rarely think about their prostates, but as they age, it becomes an area of concern.
This is because the prostate can grow in size, leading to complications. Furthermore, prostate cancer is also a real threat.
The American Cancer Society estimates that one in seven men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, and it’s expected that in 2018, 164,690 new cases of prostate cancer will arise.
Cancer is tricky to completely prevent, but there are some things you can do to lower your risk of developing it. The following tips can not only help you live an overall healthier life, but possibly aid in reducing your risk of prostate cancer.
6 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer
Exercise and maintain a healthy weight: Exercise can aid in maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight and carrying around a lot of fat is a health risk for several different illnesses and disease, even cancer. You will also want to work on eliminating abdominal fat as this has been found to be the most dangerous.
Increase your fruit and vegetable intake: Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins and nutrients that work to support your health. Aiming for at least five servings a day is ideal. Many fruits and vegetables even contain specific nutrients for the prostate. Tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables, watermelon, and papaya are all recommended.
Soak in the sun: The best way to obtain vitamin D is through sunlight, but be safe when exposing yourself to the sun. Vitamin D is an important part of supporting good health.
Don’t smoke: If you never smoked, don’t begin, and if you’re a current smoker, think about quitting. Smoking is known to be linked to cancer.
Know your family history: Having a family history of prostate cancer increases your risk. By knowing your family history of prostate cancer, you’ll know to get screened.
Get tested: Undergoing a PSA test and rectal exam can provide insight on the health of your prostate. If cancer is spotted early on, then treatment can begin earlier, which can increase survival rate.
Also read:
- Plant-based chemicals found in food prevent prostate cancer
- Natural remedies and exercises for enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)