How to prevent prostate cancer that is important for men to know

Prostate cancer is one of the health problems that threaten men. Reporting from the World Cancer Research Journal, this disease ranks 6th as the leading cause of male death. Therefore, it is better if you prevent prostate cancer from an early age so that this disease does not threaten your life. So, what are the ways that can be done to prevent prostate cancer?

Various ways to prevent prostate cancer

Cancer cells can grow in the prostate slowly without realizing it, even spreading very quickly. This condition can cause various complications of prostate cancer or can even threaten your life if left untreated.

Therefore, efforts to prevent prostate cancer need to be done to reduce the risk of forming these cancer cells. There is a simple way to prevent prostate cancer, which is to change your habits or lifestyle to be healthier, which you can apply in your daily life.

Here are some healthy ways and habits that can help you prevent prostate cancer:

1. Reduce consumption of animal fats and dairy products

Several studies have shown that eating high-fat foods, such as red meat (beef, pork, lamb) and dairy products (milk, cheese), is a risk factor for prostate cancer. In addition, men who consume a lot of calcium, both from food intake and supplements, are also more at risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer.

Therefore, you should avoid these foods to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. On the other hand, choose prostate cancer prevention foods that are low in fat or that contain healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids.

You can find omega-3 fatty acids in several foods, such as fish, nuts, seeds, and avocados. In addition, you should avoid calcium supplements and reduce high calcium foods, such as milk, as a way to prevent prostate cancer.

2. Eat lots of vegetables and fruit

Apart from healthy fats, you also need to eat more vegetables and fruits. Both types of food contain nutrients, vitamins, and high fiber that can improve body health, which indirectly can prevent prostate cancer.

One type of vegetable that is good for preventing cancer is from the cruciferous family. Quoted from the National Cancer Institute, this vegetable is rich in nutrients, such as carotenoids, vitamins C, E, and K, folate, and minerals.

In addition, these vegetables also contain a group of substances called glucosinolates, which can provide anticancer effects. The types of cruciferous vegetables that you need to consume as a way to prevent prostate cancer are pokcoy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, and watercress.

Apart from the cruciferous family, you also need to enrich the nutrients from other vegetables and fruits. One of them is good for consumption, namely tomatoes. Tomatoes contain one of the antioxidants, namely lycopene, which can slow down the growth of prostate cancer cells.

3. Drink green tea and soy milk

Some studies say that protein in soy called isoflavones has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by lowering PSA levels. (specific protein antigen) in the body. You can get these benefits by consuming soy milk or other soy-containing foods, such as tofu or tempeh.

Apart from soybeans, green tea is also said to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, especially for men who have a high risk of this disease.

4. Avoid smoking

In addition to causing lung cancer, smoking can also increase a person's risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer, a type of cancer that spreads faster. Therefore, care for yourself and your family by quitting smoking now to help prevent prostate cancer since then.

5. Exercise regularly

Keeping your body active by exercising regularly helps you to stay healthy and fit, including preventing prostate cancer. Exercise also helps you to maintain your ideal body weight. You don't need to stay long, exercising 15-30 minutes every day or three hours a week is enough to get the benefits.

6. Maintain ideal body weight

Some studies suggest obesity can increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Therefore, maintaining an ideal body weight is one way to prevent prostate cancer from an early age in yourself. This method can be done by eating low-calorie foods and exercising regularly.

7. Do not take additional vitamin E supplements

Some studies say that consuming vitamin E too often can increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Therefore, as long as your intake contains 15 mg of vitamin E, you do not need additional vitamin E supplements. Enough to meet daily vitamin E needs from the foods you eat everyday, such as almonds, spinach, broccoli, and avocado.

This also applies to other supplements. It is better for you to meet daily nutrition from food intake, than from supplements, to maintain a healthy body and prevent prostate cancer in yourself.

Medicines that can help prevent prostate cancer

In addition to implementing the healthy habits above, certain drugs can reduce the risk of prostate cancer, especially for those who have a high risk of this disease. There are drugs that can prevent prostate cancer, namely 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, such as finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart).

This drug works by blocking the 5-alpha reductase enzyme that converts the hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can cause cancer cells to grow. Consult with your doctor whether you are at high risk and need to take this drug as a preventive measure for prostate cancer.