Q. I have no family history of prostate cancer, but I still want to reduce my risk. Is there anything I should incorporate to change my daily lifestyle?
A. If men live long enough, most will develop cancer cells in the prostate. Approximately 80% of men over the age of 80 have some form of prostate cancer.
However, only a small number of people develop aggressive cancers that affect their quality of life and longevity. Therefore, the more important question is what lifestyle changes can delay the onset of prostate cancer and reduce the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. Here are three areas where he found observational research could be helpful.
diet. Research has shown that the same type of diet associated with improved heart and brain health is associated with a lower risk of advanced prostate cancer. According to a study published in the March 2022 issue, American Journal of Clinical NutritionResearchers who followed 47,239 men for 28 years found that men who reported eating a predominantly plant-based diet, such as the Mediterranean or DASH diet, had a significantly lower risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. I discovered. Other studies have shown that following these healthier diets may reduce your chances of dying from prostate cancer. Although this benefit may be related to the omega-3 fatty acids abundant in fish (a staple of the Mediterranean and DASH diets), taking fish oil supplements has not been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. not.
What you don’t eat is also important. Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding obesity reduces your chances of developing advanced prostate cancer. Limiting meat and added sugars may also be good for prostate health.
exercise. There is also evidence to suggest that regular exercise may reduce a man’s chances of getting prostate cancer. In 2019, Harvard University researchers found that men who did the most intense exercise had a 30% lower risk of developing advanced prostate cancer compared to men who exercised the least. A study has been published showing that people have a 25% lower risk of dying from cancer.
frequency of ejaculation. Men who ejaculate frequently appear to have a lower risk of prostate cancer. One large, long-term study found that men who ejaculate 21 or more times a month had a 20% lower risk of prostate cancer than men who ejaculated four to seven times a month. It is unclear why ejaculating frequently is protective. Some experts believe that the release of semen flushes harmful substances from the prostate. However, this study did not address the risk of advanced prostate cancer.
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