Your Best Defense Against Prostate Disease

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Your Best Defense Against Prostate Disease

Posted On : Aug-25-2011 | seen (1392) times | Article Word Count : 968 |

The word “cruciferous” comes from the Latin word meaning “cross.” Cruciferous vegetables are part of a family of vegetables that have a high content of “phytochemicals.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes phytochemicals as substances that are found in fruits and vegetables that reduce the risk of cancer.
So phytochemicals are cancer fighters, and they are antioxidants. In the plant kingdom, plants produce phytochemicals to protect themselves in remarkably sophisticated ways. Phytochemicals protect against the invasion of neighboring plants. They also give positive feeding cues to beneficial insects and negative feeding cues to harmful insects, and they give protection against microbial invasions and fungal growth.
There are more than a 1,000 known phytochemicals. Cruciferous vegetables are particularly high in a certain type called “glucosinolates.” In humans, once glucosinolates have been chopped, chewed and digested, they become powerful compounds that inhibit cancer-cell growth.
One medical study, performed at Harvard Medical School, found that cruciferous vegetables slowed or prevented the progression of prostate cancer.1 The American Journal of Nutrition published the results of a study that found that cruciferous vegetables, in particular, reduced the risk for “benign prostatic hyperplasia” (BPH) in men between the ages of 46 and 81.2
Polyphenols
“Polyphenols” are a large family of compounds that are found in plants. Unlike vitamins, polyphenols have only recently been researched for their health benefits. Green tea and red wine polyphenols have been widely publicized in the media. In order to examine how polyphenols can protect you from prostate disease, it would be easiest to divide this large group into subclasses.
Phenolic Acids
Phenolic acids all have similar chemical compositions. Artichokes have a phenolic acid called “cynarin,” and sage has one called “salvin.” Cynarin increases bile secretion and reduces blood cholesterol. Salvin has antimicrobial properties.
As far as maintaining a healthy prostate is concerned, phenolic acids in green tea have been shown to be protective against disease. In a study performed in Southeast China, 130 patients with prostate cancer were given green tea to drink. The patients’ cancer risk declined with increased frequency, duration and quantity of tea consumed.3
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are also antioxidants. Flavonoids have a unique ability to modify your body’s reaction to allergens, viruses and carcinogens. Apparently, your body actually sees flavonoids as foreign compounds and tries to get rid of them. In trying to get rid of them, however, enzymes are released that help eliminate carcinogens.
“Quercetin” is the most active of the flavonoids. Most medicinal plants owe their effectiveness at healing to the presence of quercetin. For those who are concerned about BPH, quercetin is a known anti-inflammatory. It has the ability to stop the initial processes that cause inflammation to develop. It has also been found to reduce the level of hormone action in the development of cancer.4
Anthocyanins
“Anthocyanins” are a group of water-soluble pigments. They give plants that are pink, scarlet, purple and blue their brilliant colors. Bilberries have a very high content of anthocyanins. In plants, anthocyanins actually act as a sort of sunscreen, protecting them from high light stress. In humans, anthocyanins are anti-inflammatory. They also protect your cells from oxidative damage. Anthocyanins are found in berries, grapes, red cabbage, cherries, pomegranates, plums and apples.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E gets high scores in prostate-cancer prevention. In one now-infamous trial, a group of Finnish researchers did a massive trial involving almost 30,000 male smokers. They wanted to determine if vitamin-E and beta-carotene supplementation could help prevent lung cancer. The results were disappointing, but what they did find out, unexpectedly, was that participants who took vitamin E had 32% fewer cases of prostate cancer and 41% fewer deaths from the disease.5
Vitamin E fights dangerous free radicals in your body’s fats and oils, and it can significantly enhance your immune system’s ability to fight infection and disease. Here’s how it works: immune cells constantly synthesize new molecules as they grow. When vitamin E is present during this synthesis, it can help new, healthy, strong molecules replace the older, damaged molecules. This, in turn, strengthens your immune system.
Vitamin E is also an important protector of your blood cells, nervous system, skeletal muscles and retinas.
Selenium
Selenium works with vitamin E to protect your cell membranes against free-radical damage. Selenium is a trace mineral. It helps your body produce a certain enzyme called “glutathione peroxidase.” This enzyme is able to roam around your body and kill free radicals before they oxidize.
Like the vitamin-E trial that we just mentioned, selenium was used in a trial to determine if it had any effect on skin cancer. The trial involved 1,312 patients who had been previously treated for skin cancer. Those patients who were given daily doses of selenium were found to have 63% fewer cases of prostate cancer than those not taking the mineral.6 Clearly, selenium plays a protective role in prostate health.
Vitamin D
Believe it or not, prostate-cancer rates increase as you move from southern latitudes to northern latitudes. This has been researched and proven. You are at greater risk the farther north you live.
Scientists have linked ultraviolet light and vitamin D to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. An “epidemiologist” by the name of Dr. G. Swartz analyzed the cancer mortality data for a 45-year period. What he and his team found was that geographic distribution of prostate-cancer mortality is the inverse of that of UV radiation.
Cloud cover, time of day and smog also affect your absorption of UV rays.
Many foods are fortified with vitamin D. In the 1930s, “rickets” was a common health problem, so the U.S. government began fortifying milk. The practice has continued through today. Some cereals are also fortified with vitamin D — check the label. Other food sources of vitamin D are cod-liver oil (the best source), salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines.

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<h1>Your Best Defense Against Prostate Disease</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_doctorshealthpress.aspx'>doctorshealthpress</a> The word “cruciferous” comes from the Latin word meaning “cross.” Cruciferous vegetables are part of a family of vegetables that have a high content of “phytochemicals.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes phytochemicals as substances that are found in fruits and vegetables that reduce the risk of cancer.
So phytochemicals are cancer fighters, and they are antioxidants. In the plant kingdom, plants produce phytochemicals to protect themselves in remarkably sophisticated ways. Phytochemicals protect against the invasion of neighboring plants. They also give positive feeding cues to beneficial insects and negative feeding cues to harmful insects, and they give protection against microbial invasions and fungal growth.
There are more than a 1,000 known phytochemicals. Cruciferous vegetables are particularly high in a certain type called “glucosinolates.” In humans, once glucosinolates have been chopped, chewed and digested, they become powerful compounds that inhibit cancer-cell growth.
One medical study, performed at Harvard Medical School, found that cruciferous vegetables slowed or prevented the progression of prostate cancer.1 The American Journal of Nutrition published the results of a study that found that cruciferous vegetables, in particular, reduced the risk for “benign prostatic hyperplasia” (BPH) in men between the ages of 46 and 81.2
Polyphenols
“Polyphenols” are a large family of compounds that are found in plants. Unlike vitamins, polyphenols have only recently been researched for their health benefits. Green tea and red wine polyphenols have been widely publicized in the media. In order to examine how polyphenols can protect you from prostate disease, it would be easiest to divide this large group into subclasses.
Phenolic Acids
Phenolic acids all have similar chemical compositions. Artichokes have a phenolic acid called “cynarin,” and sage has one called “salvin.” Cynarin increases bile secretion and reduces blood cholesterol. Salvin has antimicrobial properties.
As far as maintaining a healthy prostate is concerned, phenolic acids in green tea have been shown to be protective against disease. In a study performed in Southeast China, 130 patients with prostate cancer were given green tea to drink. The patients’ cancer risk declined with increased frequency, duration and quantity of tea consumed.3
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are also antioxidants. Flavonoids have a unique ability to modify your body’s reaction to allergens, viruses and carcinogens. Apparently, your body actually sees flavonoids as foreign compounds and tries to get rid of them. In trying to get rid of them, however, enzymes are released that help eliminate carcinogens.
“Quercetin” is the most active of the flavonoids. Most medicinal plants owe their effectiveness at healing to the presence of quercetin. For those who are concerned about BPH, quercetin is a known anti-inflammatory. It has the ability to stop the initial processes that cause inflammation to develop. It has also been found to reduce the level of hormone action in the development of cancer.4
Anthocyanins
“Anthocyanins” are a group of water-soluble pigments. They give plants that are pink, scarlet, purple and blue their brilliant colors. Bilberries have a very high content of anthocyanins. In plants, anthocyanins actually act as a sort of sunscreen, protecting them from high light stress. In humans, anthocyanins are anti-inflammatory. They also protect your cells from oxidative damage. Anthocyanins are found in berries, grapes, red cabbage, cherries, pomegranates, plums and apples.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E gets high scores in prostate-cancer prevention. In one now-infamous trial, a group of Finnish researchers did a massive trial involving almost 30,000 male smokers. They wanted to determine if vitamin-E and beta-carotene supplementation could help prevent lung cancer. The results were disappointing, but what they did find out, unexpectedly, was that participants who took vitamin E had 32% fewer cases of prostate cancer and 41% fewer deaths from the disease.5
Vitamin E fights dangerous free radicals in your body’s fats and oils, and it can significantly enhance your immune system’s ability to fight infection and disease. Here’s how it works: immune cells constantly synthesize new molecules as they grow. When vitamin E is present during this synthesis, it can help new, healthy, strong molecules replace the older, damaged molecules. This, in turn, strengthens your immune system.
Vitamin E is also an important protector of your blood cells, nervous system, skeletal muscles and retinas.
Selenium
Selenium works with vitamin E to protect your cell membranes against free-radical damage. Selenium is a trace mineral. It helps your body produce a certain enzyme called “glutathione peroxidase.” This enzyme is able to roam around your body and kill free radicals before they oxidize.
Like the vitamin-E trial that we just mentioned, selenium was used in a trial to determine if it had any effect on skin cancer. The trial involved 1,312 patients who had been previously treated for skin cancer. Those patients who were given daily doses of selenium were found to have 63% fewer cases of prostate cancer than those not taking the mineral.6 Clearly, selenium plays a protective role in prostate health.
Vitamin D
Believe it or not, prostate-cancer rates increase as you move from southern latitudes to northern latitudes. This has been researched and proven. You are at greater risk the farther north you live.
Scientists have linked ultraviolet light and vitamin D to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. An “epidemiologist” by the name of Dr. G. Swartz analyzed the cancer mortality data for a 45-year period. What he and his team found was that geographic distribution of prostate-cancer mortality is the inverse of that of UV radiation.
 Cloud cover, time of day and smog also affect your absorption of UV rays.
Many foods are fortified with vitamin D. In the 1930s, “rickets” was a common health problem, so the U.S. government began fortifying milk. The practice has continued through today. Some cereals are also fortified with vitamin D — check the label. Other food sources of vitamin D are cod-liver oil (the best source), salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines.
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Keywords : prostate, cancerous tumors , health news, health e-letter, nutritional health, doctors Advice,

Category : Disease And Illness : Prostate Cancer

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