Health and wellness

Diet and Prostate health

Dietary recommendation for prostate health

Photo by Jan Sedivy on Unsplash

1. Water Intake:

• We all have been taught to have a large amount of water every day and it is a vital component of good health. But do we really need a large amount of water?.
• If you don't have any other medical condition requiring you to consume a relatively large amount of water, you need to reduce the amount of water you consume, especially at night.
• Avoid Binge drinking (a large volume of liquids at one go )
• Avoid Tea, Coffee, and Alcohol intake after 7 pm ( they act as a diuretic { drugs that produce more urine ) and you will have to wake up multiple times at night to pass urine.
• Avoid Holding Urine for a long period of time. Try to pass urine at regular intervals.
• People usually drink large amounts of water, while waiting for Ultrasonography ( or Uroflowmetery ) in order to fill the bladder. You should avoid doing it, as sometimes you might land up in Urinary retention due to a large amount of water you drink ( remember Avoid Binge !!!!)

2. Alcohol

• Data on the direct effect of prostate health is limited. High alcohol intake is associated with a high risk of prostate cancer and a high risk of dying from prostate cancer.
• Jinhui Zhao in their study found that the risk of prostate cancer is dose-related (a higher amount of alcohol intake is associated with higher risk ).
• You should avoid sleeping immediately after you have taken a large amount of alcohol.

3. Fat

• You should avoid having too much-fried food as it might increase your risk of having prostate cancer ( other than you putting on weight and increased risk of heart problems that might accompany )
• Stott-Miller M and group reported that if you take a large amount of ( more than once per week ) French fries, fried chicken, fried fish, and doughnuts your risk of getting prostate cancer is a little higher than people who don't.

4. Tomatoes(lycopene/carotenes)

• Tomatoes ( cooked ones ) can help you reduce the risk of prostate cancer. A small amount of cooked tomatoes can help you improve your prostate health.

5. Soy

• Soy food should be taken in moderation, excessive intake is associated with advanced disease.
• Meat products are not directly associated with any risk of prostatic disease.

6. Vitamin D

• Both Low and High Vitamin D intake is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. Avoid taking supplements if you don't have proven deficiency.

7. Selenium and Vitamin E

• Supplements of both are not beneficial in improving prostate health and decreasing the risk of prostate cancer.

Having a balanced diet and avoiding binge drinking is key to good bladder function and prostatic health.

Dr. Abhishek Laddha

.