THE PROSTATE

What’s the most common health complaint for middle-aged and older men?THE PROSTATE!(Technically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)If you fall into this category then read this! Statistics confirm that you have a one in three chance of developing a prostate problem at some stage in your life but................


...............Here’s the good news..............

Most serious prostate problems are avoidable!New findings published recently, report that there is a link between consuming a greater amount of folate with a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer.Promising findings aren’t they?In 1999 it was revealed that almost 25,000 men were diagnosed as having prostate cancer and this number is expected to continue increasing.Reduce the risk by over a third!

Folate is the form of the B vitamin – folic acid – that naturally occurs in leafy green vegetables like spinach. Folic acid is essential for the proper synthesis and repair of DNA and therefore for cell division. Although commonly referred to as an essential vitamin for pregnant women, new findings have found that folic acid is just as important for men.

In a case-control study of prostate cancer over a period of 11 years researchers in Italy analysed data from almost 1300 patients. All diagnosed with prostate cancer!This was compared to 1,451 patients with growths (but not associated with tumours or cancer) who were admitted to the same hospital. Researchers then evaluated over 78 different foods that had been eaten by these patients up to two years prior to their diagnosis or hospital admission.

It was found that Folate intake was directly related to prostate cancer risk! A 34% LOWER risk of prostate cancer was found in men who included a lot of folate in their diets, This was compared to men whose intake of folate was considerably lower and based on these findings it was concluded that there is a very strong relationship between a high intake of folate and lower levels of cancer.

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So………mum was right all those years ago…

"Eat your greens because they’re good for you"

Another Product known to benefit the prostate issue is Saw Palmetto, a product used as a treatment of its symptoms. Many men regularly use both products.

Studies have shown that it is effective in reducing symptoms associated with BPH. Saw Palmetto appears to have efficiency similar to that of medications like Finasteride. It is also believed to be easier for the body to tolerate and of course it is much cheaper.

There are no known drug interactions with Saw Palmetto, and reported side effects are minor and rare. No data on its long-term usage are available however. Today, Saw Palmetto remains the leading selling of natural prostate remedies, out selling all other herbal products combined.

The conclusion?Protect your prostate by increasing your intake of folate and seriously consider adding Saw Palmetto to your daily supplement intake.

Food information!
Foods high in folate include: Dark green leafy vegetables like greens, spinach, broccoli, eggs, orange juice, fortified breakfast cereals and vitamin supplements (in the form of folic acid).The recommended dose for  folic acid is 400 micrograms daily, and 320mg of Saw Palmetto, both preferably taken at mealtimes.

Peter Charalambos

Editor:
My Health Articles.co.uk
Many articles are kindly submitted by The Article Times.com and where it relates to Health we also gratefully receive article contributions from My Sports Articles.com and www.Vitaminfo.co.uk

ACIDOPHILUS? - what's that?

Lactobacillus acidophilus, or acidophilus for short ... ..........is one of the most useful organisms in your body.

Acidophilus is.................... a Probiotic, one of the organisms living in the stomach and the intestines which are necessary for the correct absorption and assimilation of nutrients, as well as for the defence of your digestive system against harmful organisms. These “intestinal flora”, as they are known, keep Candida, a virulent strain of yeast which lives in the body, as well as other harmful organisms, in balance so that they do not begin to overgrow and cause harm.

Lactobacillus acidophilus can be thrown out of balance by many factors. These include the use of steroidal hormones, the consumption of excessively processed food, a depressed immune system, and even some over the counter so-called remedies. But the most common factor is the use and overuse of antibiotics. Broad spectrum antibiotics – that is, antibiotics which kill not just one targeted organism, but any bacteria which they come into contact with – devastate the digestive system, Killing off not just acidophilus, but many other necessary bacteria which line the stomach and intestinal walls.

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Once the acidophilus is killed off, the yeast can move in, causing all manner of horrifying health problems. Unexplained aches and pains, nausea, depression, moodiness, sexual dysfunction, and all manner of digestive ailments, are just a few of the countless symptoms of candidiasis, or candida overgrowth. Once the acidophilus is depleted, the health effects are almost inevitable. Fortunately, Lactobacillus acidophilus is really rather easy to replenish.

There are many acidophilus pills on the market which, when eaten with a meal, can introduce billions of live organisms back to the digestive system, to undo some of the damages which the antibiotics did. In addition, yogurt contains live acidophilus cultures, and when added to the daily diet, is one of the most effective ways to replenish acidophilus in the gut.

If antibiotic use was frequent enough, however, more most be done to fully recover from all of the damages. One necessary step to restoring levels of friendly bacteria is to treat the candida overgrowth. This is accomplished through a combination of different factors. A special diet, low in processed foods and simple carbohydrates, and high in meats and lightly cooked vegetables is an essential first step. Probiotic supplements (acidophilus) as well as a medicine to treat the fungal infection, such as Diflucan, or an herbal supplement, will also be necessary.

Note:This is how I explained it to the kids when they were young: " It's like the goody germs fighting the baddies"

Peter Charalambos

Editor:
My Health Articles.co.uk
Many articles are kindly submitted by The Article Times.com and where it relates to Health we also gratefully receive article contributions from My Sports Articles.com and http://www.vitaminfo.co.uk/

EATING HEALTHY

EATING HEALTHY

It's getting to be summertime and that means it is time to put away the sweaters and heavy pants and bring out the lighter weight and more revealing clothes of summer.

My husband and I decided to take our summer clothes out of storage and to bag up the winter clothes. We both found that we had put on weight over the winter. We have started walking as the weather is improving, but we have been eating many of our meals in restaurants lately. We decided we needed to start eating healthy or we would be buying all new clothes for the summer months.

He and I both enjoy all types of foods so eating healthy is not an issue, we had just gotten out of the habit of making good choices. It seems during the winter months we spend more time doing activities that involve eating. One advantage of eating healthy as summer approaches is the wide variety of choices of fresh fruits and vegetables. We also tend to grill more in the warmer weather. Grilled meats, poultry and fish are much more flavourful and lower in fat.

We found that we were both able to start losing weight by eating healthy salad greens with low fat vinaigrette dressing and a serving portion of grilled protein. For us the key to eating healthy is to have a variety of foods. It is so easy to get stuck in a pattern of preparing the same menus over and over again. I have been purchasing different fruits and vegetables than we ordinarily eat. This is a way of discovering new foods while adding variety to your meals. Most produce departments have serving suggestions and recipes for the exotic fruits and vegetables.

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One protein choice that we enjoy is mushrooms. The use of mushrooms adds so many flavours to a meal that you do not miss the higher calorie meat protein. On days when we do eat in restaurants we have found that eating healthy is still possible. Most restaurants offer healthy choices on their menus. Many restaurants are now placing the nutritional content of the food on the menus. This is good because some choices may seem like you are eating healthy, but the way the food is prepared or sauces that are added may add a great deal of fat and calories.

I will ask that sauces and dressings be served on the side so I can control how many calories I am adding to my meal.Eating healthy is not only a choice; it is a way of life. By making healthier choices in what we eat it seems like a healthy activity level just follows along. The combination of eating healthy and exercising is a sure way of losing weight.

Peter Charalambos


Editor
My Health Articles.co.uk
Many of the articles published are kindly submitted by www.TheArticleTimes.com and www.Vitaminfo.co.uk and where it relates to Health we also gratefully receive article contributions from My Sports Articles.com