Men's Health

5 effective tips to reduce the risk of prostate cancer

Cancer is one of those formidable ailments that cannot be cured unless it is diagnosed in its initial stages. Once the cancer tumor breaks off from the primary state, it affects the adjoining areas, making it incredibly difficult to treat it. After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer that is predicted to affect 174,650 men this year. There is no actual known cause of prostate cancer, but it is known to affect older men after the cells in the prostate become abnormal and start mutating. There are different types of prostate cancer, some are harmless and require minimal treatment, whereas, the others are lethal and tend to progress aggressively.

Though prostate cancer occurs in older men and there is no avoiding it as there are genetic susceptibilities at play here, there are certain measures one can undertake to reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer. Some of the effective tips to prevent prostate cancer are as follows:

Choose a healthy diet consisting of fruits and vegetables
A balanced diet has always proven effective in keeping a person healthy and warding off ailments that come their way. The nutrients and vitamins in fruits and vegetables play a major role in reducing the risk of developing prostate cancer. Research asserts that green vegetables contain compounds that are instrumental in helping the body break down cancer-causing substances that are called carcinogens. So, a diet rich in all the essential nutrients can go a long way in keeping one cancer free and also helps in slowing down the spread of cancer.

Healthy food over supplements
Let’s acknowledge the truth here, healthy, naturally-occurring foods are always more nutritious than the supplements. If one has a family history of prostate cancer, snacking on healthy foods will prove more beneficial than consuming supplements. Moreover, there are high chances that the supplements might be adulterated or can contain harmful substances. So, to reduce the risk of exposing the body to the onslaught of carcinogens, eating healthy foods instead of supplements is a must.

Exercise regularly
Exercising regularly is beneficial for overall health. It helps one stay active and maintain a healthy weight. Also, studies indicate that men who exercise on a regular basis have lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels than those who don’t exercise at all. Therefore, it is essential to chalk out time for exercises as it will help keep prostate cancer at bay.

Quit smoking
Smoking is a destructive habit and is detrimental to one’s overall health. In fact, studies have linked smoking to prostate cancer and have asserted that those prostate cancer patients whose cancer is in remission shouldn’t smoke as they are more susceptible to a relapse of prostate cancer. Moreover, men who smoke are at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer than those who don’t. So, it is advisable to quit smoking whenever possible as it is never too late.

Choose good fat
A study conducted in 2014 established a link between animal-based fats and an increased risk of prostate cancer. So, it is advisable to avoid animal-based fats that are found in meat and even in lard, butter, and cheese. It is sensible to replace animal-based fats with plant-based fats to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.