October 2008 - Featured Articles

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Prevention Is Key To Prostate Health
By Klaus Ferlow

Infection, enlargement and cancer are three common problems that challenge prostate health. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canadian men and it accounts for almost one in four cancer diagnoses. In 2002, an estimated 18,200 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer; 4,300 died from it.

On average, 350 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every week. Of those diagnosed, 83 will die each week! Furthermore, statistics reveal that one in eight men will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime and, after age 70, one in 28 will die from it. This is a pretty grim statistic that should really act as a wake-up call for men!

Symptoms of an enlarged prostate typically appear in men after 50 years of age and, in many cases, even earlier. An enlarged prostate does not necessarily indicate cancer, but it is a symptom that should not be ignored. It is not uncommon for the prostate gland to become enlarged as a man ages. This condition is referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The exact cause of this condition is not known. Prostate enlargement and cancer are both linked to hormonal changes that occur as men get older (called andropause) which is similar to the menopausal changes that occur in women. Statistics show that approximately 75% of males between the ages of 30 and 40 will develop enlargement of the prostate. This increases to 90% of men over the age of 65.

Early detection can make it possible to catch the cancer before it spreads to other areas of the body. A careful rectal exam of the prostate, how inconvenient it may be, is the simplest and most cost-effective approach for detecting prostate cancer. It is suggested that every man have an annual exam beginning at the age of 40.

A blood test to detect elevated levels of a substance called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an excellent screening test for prostate cancer. PSA is currently the most valuable "tumour marker" available to diagnose and evaluate the effectiveness of therapy for prostate cancer. A PSA test result between 0 and 4 is considered to be within the normal range and a PSA over 10 is assumed to indicate cancer until proven otherwise. If a man's PSA level is found to be high, the test should always be repeated.

Here are some signs to watch out for. Your health care practitioner should check out any of these symptoms:

- a weak, hesitant or interrupted flow of urine
- difficulty controlling the flow of urine
- pain or straining to maintain a stream of urine
- blood in the urine or semen
- a sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder
- frequent urination, especially during the night
- infection of the bladder
- pain or stiffness in the hips, thighs and lower back

Prevention is key to prostate health!

Good dietary habits and supplements can help to prevent most problems associated with the prostate. The following offers simple guidelines to clean up your diet and environment and to enrich your nutrition and supplementation. It may not possible to follow each of these recommendations, but a few alterations to your current practices can make a significant difference.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Try to Avoid:

- daily consumption of red meat;
- refined sugar & table salt, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, white bleached flour products, hydrogenated (deep fried) vegetable oils, margarine, processed peanut butter;
- chemicals added to food (artificial preservatives such as BHA, BHT, MSG, nitrites, nitrates, sodium benzoates;
- processed meats and sausages;
- artificial colouring and flavouring;
- sweeteners (such as Aspartame, Neotame, Nutrasweet, Equal, Splenda) and saccharine (like Sweet 'n low) found in diet sodas, diabetic foods and other processed low calorie foods;
- fluoride, chlorine, aluminium and Teflon cookware;
- amalgam (mercury) dental fillings.

Try to Include:

- zinc, the single most important nutrient for a healthy prostate (cert. organic pumpkin seeds are an excellent source);
- other nutrient rich seeds such as hemp ,flax, sunflower, sesame seeds;
- unrefined, cold pressed nut and seed oils such as flax, hemp, walnut, hazelnut, evening primrose, sesame, fish oil GMO free;
- certified organic fresh leafy green vegetables; - whole grains and raw wheat germ (includes freshly pressed juices of carrots, green vegetables, wheat grass, citrus fruit, mangos);
- chickpeas, pistachios, almonds, Brazil nuts, lentils, beans;
- cabbage, spinach, Swiss chard;
- oatmeal;
- apples, onions, tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, papaya, carrots, sweet potatoes, turnip, corn;
- digestive enzymes, lactobacillus, acidophilus;
- beneficial herbal remedies like saw palmetto, pygeum africanum, stinging nettle, cat's claw, Echinacea, ginseng, buchu, goldenseal, uva ursi, chaparral, parsley, sage, St. John's Wort tea, horsetail bath;

Of the herbs listed, saw palmetto is the most commonly used herb to offer protection for the prostate. Studies have shown saw palmetto to be an effective alternative to prostate surgery. Men using it also experienced an increase in sex drive and ability to function sexually. It must be used long-term to shrink the prostate, but many men notice an improvement in their symptoms within six weeks. Saw palmetto can be used to increase strength and muscle mass and it works best when combined with exercise programs.

Good prostate health begins with PREVENTION!

Words of Wisdom

"A wise man should consider health as the greatest of human blessings and learn how by his own thought to derive benefits from his illnesses."
~ Hippocrates (Greek Father of Medicine, 460 - 377 BC) ~

References:

- The Natural Way of a Healthy Prostate, Michael B. Schachter
- The Men's Essential Guide to Prostate Health, Victor Contreras, MD, Garry Gordon, MD, Roger Libby, Ph.D.
- Freedom Press Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy & Prostate Cancer, Kurt W. Donsbach, Ph.D.
- The Prostate, Yosh Taguchi, MD
- Nature Cure for Prostate Troubles, Harry Clemens, ND, DO
- Protect Your Prostate, Michael Colgan, ND

Klaus Ferlow, herbalist, innovator, lecturer, researcher, writer, president, founder and co-owner of FERLOW BOTANICALS, Div. of Ferlow Brothers Ltd, Vancouver, B.C., founded 1975; manufacturer/distributor of toxin free medicinal herbal and personal care products to professional health & wellness practitioners in Canada and parts of USA since 1993. Email: klaus@ferlowbotanicals.com, Website: www.ferlowbotanicals.com

His educational articles have been published in dozens of health magazines, magazines, newspapers, newsletters in Canada, the Positive Health Magazine UK/USA and numerous websites around the world.

Disclaimer: This information is offered for its educational value and should not be used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease. Please contact your health care practitioner.