It’s quite common for men to experience prostate problems as they get older. The prostate gland, which is found near the male bladder, can sometimes become enlarged and cause symptoms such as blood in your urine, low pain, pain with ejaculation, pain or interruptions in flow with urination or the frequent feeling of an urgency to urinate. If an enlarged prostate is ignored, it may progress into more serious health problems such as urinary tract infections, bladder stones, kidney stones and sometimes even more serious bladder and kidney problems.
By making some simple lifestyle changes you can better protect yourself from having painful or embarrassing issues with your prostate.
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Maintain a Healthy Weight.
Keeping within a healthy weight range will in turn help to keep your prostate healthy. Exercise regularly and if you are overweight, see you doctor regarding a diet and exercise plan that will get you into a healthy weight range.
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Eat more Fruit and Vegetables.
Foods such as tomatoes, watermelons, pink grapefruit, papaya and guava contain high levels of lycopene, which is a powerful anti-oxidant that can help keep your prostate healthy.
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Increase your Soy, Omega 3, Selenium and Zinc Intake.
Soy has properties that can help fight cancer cells within the body. Soy can be found in tofu, soy nuts or soy flour but a simple way of getting more soy into your diet is to swap your regular cow’s milk for soy milk. Including some salmon, tuna or herring in your diet will not only improve your prostate health but will also help your heart and immune system. Foods that are rich in Selenium include broccoli, Brazil nuts, asparagus, onions and brown rice. Zinc deficiencies can sometimes lead to an enlarged prostate. As today’s foods often don’t contain enough zinc, the easiest way to increase your zinc intake is to take a supplement.
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Limit Caffeine and Alcohol
If you are experiencing prostate problems you will benefit from avoiding alcohol as much as possible and by limiting your caffeine intake to one cup of coffee per day.
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Don’t Smoke
Not only will you reduce your chances of cancer, by reducing or quitting smoking you will also improve the overall health of your prostate and help to prevent other conditions of the prostate such as enlarged prostate or prostatitis.
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Perform Regular Pelvic Floor Exercises
Once thought to be for ‘women’ only, pelvic floor exercises (also known as Kegel exercises) will help to maintain good bladder and prostate health. Tighten the muscles around your scrotum and anus for 2-3 seconds, then release. Do 10 repetitions at least 5 times a day.
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Prostate Massage
Regular massage of the prostate gland has been shown to improve prostate health and help prevent conditions such as prostatitis, enlarged prostate and even prostate cancer. It has also been shown to enhance the intensity of ejaculation, leading to more satisfying sexual experiences.
Internal prostate massage can be performed using a gloved finger, however most men find that using a prostate stimulator offers them a much more comfortable, more pleasurable and more accurate experience.
Prostate stimulators, or prostate massagers as they are commonly called, are shaped to allow men comfortable and fool proof stimulation of the prostate. In addition to being extremely beneficial to overall prostate health, prostate massage is also recognised as source of immense pleasure for many men.
Prostate stimulators are available for purchase as part of the men’s sexual health range from Fare L’Amore.
In Summary
Many men will experience prostate problems at some point in their life. As you get older is is important to look out for and pay attention to signs of poor prostate health. While some of the symptoms of an enlarged prostate are similar to the symptoms of prostate cancer, the risk of prostate cancer is not increased in men with an enlarged prostate. Cancer of the prostate is a separate condition. If you are over 50 it is recommended that you see your doctor annually for a blood test and a digital rectal examination. If you have a brother or father who has had prostate cancer, this more than doubles your chances of also getting prostate cancer, so be sure to consult with your doctor as to when you need to commence regular screening. By visiting your doctor for regular check ups, eating healthy foods and maintaining a healthy weight you will be doing your best to help keep your prostate healthy.