As men grow older, they need to worry about prostate health.  It’s a good idea for men over 40 to talk with their doctors and start thinking about ways, foods, or regimens that can help keep the prostate healthy.  The prostate makes the majority of the semen that carries sperm.  Since Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in males and the second leading cause of cancer death in men, it’s best to take early action before it’s too late.  

A man can have Prostate Cancer that is not lethal, but it can interfere with the quality of his life.  Most commonly, men with Prostate Cancer experience complications with sexual life or develop urinary control issues.  A high percentage of men may experience an enlarged prostate and have similar complications, but it is not prostate cancer.  Prostate Cancer is slow-growing and may not reveal symptoms until it is advanced.  Symptoms include:

• Need to Urinate Frequently (most commonly during the night)
• Weak or Interrupted Urine Flow
• Painful or Burning Urination
• Painful Ejaculation
• Difficulty Starting Urination (or holding back urination)
• Loss of Bladder Control
• Blood in Urine 
• Pain or Stiffness (in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs)
• Difficulty Getting an Erection

The exact cause of Prostate Cancer is not certain, but the risk is higher in men over 50 years old.  What leads to the growth of cancer cells are mutations in the DNA or genetic material.  The mutations cause normal cells in your prostate to grow abnormally.  Other causes are listed below. 

• Genetics (a family history of Prostate Cancer can make it more likely for a person to develop it)
• Obesity
• Poor Dietary Choices
• Age (men over 50 are more prone to developing Prostate Cancer)
• Ethnicity (Prostate Cancer is more common in African-American men)

• Oregano is much more powerful than the flavor it adds to pasta or pizza sauces.  While there are antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties in oregano, carvacrol is one of its main components that has cancer-fighting effects.  While tests are still being done on carvacrol, preliminary results show that it is an anti-cancer agent that is effective in killing Prostate Cancer cells.
• Not only are avocados rich in magnesium, which is an essential mineral in your body, they are also superfoods that can help reduce symptoms of an enlarged prostate.  Avocados are loaded with healthy fats and contain beta-sitosterol, which can boost the immune system, improve urine flow, and can have an anti-inflammatory effect on the prostate.  Additional studies show that avocados can help fight the early stages of prostate cancer.
• Every person should have more turmeric in his or her diet.  It has beneficial anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to fight off cancer cells.  The active ingredient, curcumin, can stop cancerous growths in the prostate gland.  Because curcumin helps decrease inflammation, it helps to stop tumor cells from metastasizing.  Let it be known that this is not a cancer-curing food, but it does play a positive role in prevention.
• Sesame Seeds have high levels of zinc.  Since men with enlarged prostates or Prostate Cancer tend to have low zinc levels, having proper zinc levels can help prevent early damage to the prostate.  You can also eat pumpkin seeds to boost your zinc levels, which ultimately aids your immune system.
• Saw Palmetto has been used as an herbal remedy for many years.  In more recent years, the plant’s berries have been known to help urinary tract problems, increase libido, and increase sperm production.  Saw palmetto also helps to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. You can make teas, blend it in smoothies, or find saw palmetto in herbal supplements.
• Citrus fruits often steal the limelight when it comes to vitamin C, which may help fight BPH, but bell peppers actually have higher amounts of it.  You can also get vitamin C from other veggies like dark leafy greens or broccoli.  Mixing up your sources of vitamin C may help to improve your prostate’s health.
• Green tea is a healthy beverage you should incorporate into your diet because it has a wealth of antioxidants. EGCG is the specific antioxidant in green tea that may actually help kill cancer cells in the prostate. Additionally, green tea inhibits enzymes that fuel cancer growth.  Men with prostate cancer can drink green tea to help decrease cancerous tissue and promote overall health. 
• It's best to eliminate salt, processed food, meat products, dairy products, and sugar from your diet.  Switching to a more plant-based diet can ensure that you get the most essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals without any genetically modified organisms or chemicals.  There are many fruits and vegetables that can help fight Prostate Cancer, such as tomatoes, cauliflower, turmeric, green tea, ginger, saw palmetto, and many more. 

• Oregano
• Bell Peppers
• Oranges & Grapefruit
• Avocados
• Turmeric
• Sesame Seeds
• Saw Palmetto
• Green Tea
• Dark Leafy Greens (spinach, kale, & chard)
• Broccoli
• Tomatoes
• Cauliflower
• Apples
• Pears
• Apricots
• Plums