Frequent Ejaculation May Lower Prostate Cancer Risk

Men who ejaculate at least 21 times a month have a lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men who only ejaculate four to seven times a month, according to a study that followed a large group of men for nearly two decades.

This link was founded from the lower risk versions of the disease as published in the European Urology journal. Researchers didn’t find impact from ejaculation frequency on a diagnosis of high-risk prostate cancer. Participants of over 31K were part of a follow-up study where they reported how often they ejaculated in a 1992 questionnaire.

The report was based on follow-up through the year of 2010 where researchers noted prostate cancer diagnoses and outcomes.

In men between the ages 20-29 or 40-49 the impact of ejaculation assessed. Researchers before the results were in had hypothesized that more frequent ejaculations might protect men from prostate cancer and this was indeed what they found. The risk was 20% lower for men who ejaculated 21 times or more during an average month compared to those who ejaculated 4-7 times.

When they evaluated different forms of prostate cancer, the team found that ejaculating 13 times or more on average lowered the probability of low or intermediate-risk prostate cancer 25-28% in both age groups. But a link was not found of when it came to high risk prostate cancer.

There are earlier studies that showed ejaculation impacts the levels of trace elements citrate and zinc. The levels of metabolism of these factors in the prostate might contribute to cancer development.

Higher sexual activity generally is regarded as an indicator of good health and can influence the level of cancer risk. Researchers also found that higher ejaculation frequency was linked to some factors considered far from optimal from the view of health. Men 40-49 years old, frequency ejaculation was associated with a higher BMI, more STD, higher consumption of calories and alcohol as well as even divorce.

Equipment-Free Exercises to do Anywhere

Performing bodyweight exercises on different surfaces like sand can make them more challenging. These tips are the best for traveling which can be the most challenging and excuse-ridden for not getting some movement throughout the day.

Aerobic Exercise

Even if you're confined to a room or location with no running trails, you can always train your cardiovascular system. Calisthenics like jumping jacks, burpees and mountain climbers are a great way to your raise your heart rate. Try completing three sets of 10 to 20 repeats of each exercise and you'll have yourself a quality Tabata-style workout. Don’t feel like counting, or need more of a challenge? Set your alarm for timed intervals. Need to log miles? Laps around a parking lot or repeatedly climbing stairs can mimic a good run or hike.

Strength Training

No weights, no problem; bodyweight exercises tone and strengthen your body. Think push ups, lunges, squats and planks. They are super strengthening because they work multiple muscle groups at once. They can all be modified to make them more challenging or target additional muscles. Manipulate your routine by changing the surface or surroundings. Standing on an unstable surface is more of a challenge than being on firm ground.

DIY Boot Camp

Having to do the same routine day in and day out can get boring. But there are lots of ways to keep your fitness routine interesting – even on the road. Change the order of your exercises or, better yet, leave it up to chance by using a deck of cards or rolling a die to decide what your next exercise is and how many sets or reps you should do. You can also try making up a new workout progression; go from a squat to a lunge to a pushup all in one move.

Walk in the Woods

Start your workout with a brisk walk outdoors. You don’t need to take a long road trip to Yosemite - any local park or green space will do. Many communities offer biking and walking paths that make it convenient and accessible to people young and old.

Make Your Own Adventure Outside

Do your best to not ignore structures that amp up your workout in outdoor spaces. Many outdoor parks line fitness trails with simple obstacle courses and structures that challenge any move during your workout. Take advantage of free equipment for a more dynamic workout. Check out adventure parks in new communities - both free and small fee - where often rock walls and rope courses can challenge and change up your workout.

Combinations are king

With an exercise it can be great to do that exercise outside, uphill or even in water. Consider yoga which can be done in water. Combining any two activities enhances the workout and being outside relieves stress in ways exercise can’t do alone.

Start your digital detox today

Leave those electronic devices behind but to get the most of your green exercise - you really have to let go. We live in a box and work in one. Nature can expand our horizons in ways we never even imagined. Exercising in nature can relieve stress and unplugging frequently can keep us wired. Use green exercises as an excuse to disconnect and boost mind-body benefits of your workout.

New Blood Test May Determine Prostate Cancer Most Likely to Spread

Scientists have recently discovered in a new study from Queen Mary University of London that the blood levels circulating tumor cells may help identify patients diagnosis of aggressive metastatic prostate cancer, which would impact how much sooner they receive treatment.

Published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, this study addresses an unmet medical need which is an accurate way of predicting aggressive prostate cancer early.

This also identifies more knowledge when it comes to preventing cancers spreading to new areas of the body which is the main reason why people die from prostate cancer. This study shows a significant new way of helping to monitor the spread in men with the disease. Results were able to predict which patients were likely to result better than others, based on the number of rare type of immune cell found in the blood. Doctors would be able to make better-informed treatment decisions by adding this additional layer of information and ultimately prove survival.

The study examined blood samples collected from 81 prostate cancer patients and analyzed using a new cell capture technology called Parsortix developed by Angle. This system has the ability to capture many different types of cancer cells in the bloodstream even after leaving the tumor.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were investigated in this study and have been reported to be involved in poor patient survival which correlates to the beginning of metastasis formation.

Ultimately the results from this study open up many additional opportunities to benefit cancer patients and already more tests are underway using additional prostate cancer patient’s cells. Researchers are also further looking to see if this can be tested on patients with other types of cancer.

Tall Men May Be More At Risk for Aggressive Prostate Cancer

In a new study published online in the journal BMC Medicine, researchers found that the larger a man is in height, the more increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer

The study specifically found that with every additional 4 inches of height with a 21% increase in being diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer and 17% increased risk of dying from aggressive prostate cancer.

There hasn’t been much research on this particular correlation in relation to prostate cancer, so it’s important we pay attention to additional and follow-up studies in relation to the topic. But this is a call-to-action to men who are genetically taller to take additional precautions even at an earlier age by be proactive with their doctor.

Men, ask your doctor to take your PSA, and take it often. The key to understand your levels of prostate-specific antigen (which is what the PSA blood test measures) is evaluating it over a period of time - the trend matters!

In this recent study, doctors and researchers from the University of Oxford based their results off of over 140,000 men in 8 different countries across Europe. The study evaluated the correlation between cancer and nutrition.

7,024 men developed prostate cancer during an average of 14 years of follow-up including 726 diagnosed with high-grade cancer and 1,388 with advanced-stage cancer. Of these, 934 died from their cancer.

The study also noted that height and weight had an impact on a man’s risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. With the addition of each 4 inches on a man’s waist was associated with a 13% increased risk to develop high-grade prostate cancer and death.

7 ways to decrease digestive discomfort

We have to eat in order to live but when digestive issues arise such as bloating, constipation, gas, and pain, what normally should be a pleasurable occurrence can take a turn for the worse in a stressed-out stomach looking for relief.

A study from the Technical University of Denmark found that what is referred to as transit time or basically the faster our food can move from the time we eat it to the time of what’s left of it when it leaves our body, the better for our gut health.  The longer food stays in our digestive tract, the more harmful bacteria degradation products are produced.  A shorter transit time means a healthier digestive system helping us feel better. 

Our digestive health is a basic fundamental of keeping us healthy and feeling good each day.  Having a persnickety turbulent tummy can ruin the best of days for us.  By knowing certain tricks to eliminate or at least greatly reduce symptoms, you can avoid tummy troubles and begin to improve digestion today.

1.     Eliminate too much sugar and fat

Too many calories from sugary, fatty or fried foods are hard to digest.  They can irritate your stomach by slowing down the process of digestion creating a very full, uncomfortable feeling.  Excess sugar makes your blood sugar skyrocket setting up an unhealthy duo of too much sugar in the bloodstream and too much insulin being pumped by the pancreas to compensate for the situation.  The excess insulin means extra storage of calories contributing to weight gain. 

The solution? Choose more fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds and choose meats lower in fat such as fish, poultry, lean beef and pork.  Replace butter and margarine with olive oil.

2.     Fill up with water

In order to digest food water is necessary.  Good digestive health will not happen without adequate water intake.  Water helps speed transit time of food through the digestive tract and prevents constipation by creating a softer, bulkier stool.  Aim for 9-13 cups of fluid each day or until your urine looks clear.

3.    Move more

We all see what exercise can do for how we look on the outside but keeping active also does wonders for us on the inside.  Physical activity is vital for good digestive health. It stimulates blood flow to all organs including the gastrointestinal tract while stimulating and toning muscles within the stomach and intestines keeping contents moving quickly.  Aim for at least 30 minutes each day but avoid strenuous workouts right after eating.

4.     Include probiotics

Our gut needs to be feed healthy food but it also requires live microorganisms for the good bacteria to nibble on.  The best source of this is supporting our immune system and achieving a digestive tract in tip top shape.   Best food sources containing probiotics are yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso soup, soft cheeses like gouda, sour pickles, tempeh, or acidophilus milk.

5.     Slow down when eating

Our digestive system doesn’t like to be rushed so that means slow down when eating.  Taking time to eat gives the stomach ample opportunity to properly digest and absorb the nutrients within food and allows your body and brain to give you the signal when you’ve had enough.  Turn off the TV and resist looking at your computer or smartphone while eating – distracted people will eat significantly more food than when they put the focus just on eating. 

6.     Eat more fiber

For a substance that really doesn’t get absorbed in our body, we depend on it a lot to keep our digestive tract purring like a kitten.  Fiber comes in two types – soluble and insoluble.  Soluble fiber dissolves in water helping slow down digestion and absorption making you feel fuller longer.  It also slows down the amount of glucose entering into the bloodstream keeping blood sugar levels at a more even level.  Insoluble fiber passes through unabsorbed but it attracts water to it in the colon creating a softer, bulkier, easier-to-pass bowel movement, reducing constipation and pain. 

7.     Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight

A healthy body weight is associated with less symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).   This condition allows contents from the stomach to backflow into the esophagus due to a weak valve that doesn’t close completely between the stomach and esophagus.  The strong stomach acid backs up into the esophagus causing unpleasant symptoms of pain, burning and irritation of the lining of the unprotected esophagus.  Losing excess weight reduces the pressure and can help avoid heartburn and other discomfort. 

Learn how to achieve a healthy body weight by visiting here.