Prostate

As an aging man, your odds of suffering benign prostate enlargement (BPH) and/or prostate cancer are exceedingly high. BPH will afflict 50% of men over the course of their lives.1,2 At advanced stages, BPH can almost completely obstruct the urethral canal, leading to a host of lower urinary tract symptoms. Prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in men, accounting for more than 28,000 deaths and 186,000 new cases in 2008 alone.

As men grow older, they often face daunting health challenges caused by the age-related decline in testosterone levels. As levels of free testosterone dwindle and estrogen levels increase, many men experience diminishing energy levels, reduced libido, decreasing muscle mass, deteriorating mood, abdominal obesity, and perhaps even faltering cognition. At the same time, they become increasingly prone to benign prostatic enlargement (BPH) and prostate cancer.

Implicated in the onset of 95% of all cancers is a common but under-recognized molecule most people have never heard of: nuclear factor-kappaB or NF-kB. Emerging research is validating the danger it poses to maturing individuals. For example, a landmark study published late last year confirmed, for the first time, NF-kB’s central role in the onset of malignant breast cancer.

As men age, many become trapped in a vicious cycle that leads to life-threatening abdominal obesity. No matter how much they exercise or how little they eat, these men are unable to shed this excess weight that accumulates in their belly. Published studies have shown that low testosterone and obesity reinforce each other, trapping men in a spiral of weight gain and hormonal imbalance.

The majority of men older than 60 years will be affected by benign (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate gland. An enlarged prostate can be caused by either one of two conditions—benign prostatic hyperplasia or benign prostatic hypertrophy (both abbreviated BPH).

To slow the natural progression of BPH and its symptoms, the Life Extension Foundation suggests that you have annual screenings, including a PSA test and a DRE. Neither of these tests can rule out prostate cancer; however, they can alert a physician to the need for further testing.

Zinc is required by the body for more than 2,000 transcription factors involved in gene expressions of various proteins.1 What this means in everyday language is that thousands of essential biological functions are dependent on zinc.

Maintaining balanced hormone levels is essential to overall health. Unfortunately, testosterone levels decline in men as they age. Most men know that testosterone is important for sexual function, but research indicates that it is critical for so much more: maintaining cognitive function and a healthy body weight, improving insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, promoting heart health, and more.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men. While all cells have a requirement for zinc, the prostate accumulates more zinc than any other part of the body. Studies show that the proper amount of zinc maintains prostate health while suppressing tumor growth.

Up to 80% of men will suffer from symptoms of prostate enlargement, resulting in frequent urination and possible bladder infections. Studies have shown that a new flower pollen extract can help shrink overgrown prostate tissue and relieve lower urinary tract symptoms.

A recent review reveals that lycopene shields against environmental and food toxins. Individuals with the highest lycopene concentrations have a 37% lower mortality risk.

Is soy safe? A vocal minority has fueled a “controversy” of misinformation that surrounds this nutritional powerhouse. A review of the published scientific literature uncovers a wealth of studies validating soy’s broad-spectrum benefits, from cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention, to helping to maintain bone density.