- Domenic Pisanelli
- July 21, 2020
- 10:49 am
The top 2 Men’s health issues facing people in Melbourne are:
CHOLESTEROL
Initially it’s important to know that cholesterol is sent out for two main reasons. Firstly, if there is any type of Inflammation in your body, either silent or known, then cholesterol is released. Or secondly, if there are hormonal abnormalities, as Cholesterol is one the main building blocks to making hormones.
Therefore if your hormone levels are out of control like menopause for males or females then cholesterol can elevate to provide the necessary material to normalise these abnormal levels. But because of other coding problems your body actually forgets to use the cholesterol that is available and hence your cholesterol levels may go up.
A simple example of Silent Inflammation is excess tummy fat, especially for women if your waist measurement is above 88cm or for men if your waist measurement is above 102cm. Tummy fat is also known as Metabolic Syndrome. A common example of known inflammation is if you experience pain anywhere in your body. Like Arthritis, Lower back pain, neck pain etc.
The above two reasons are the causes as to why cholesterol levels elevate.
Cholesterol is the good guy and only responds to Negative Metabolic changes that occur within your Body.
Cholesterol is a type of fat that is vital for life.
It is a building block for many metabolic processes in the body including making hormones, supporting cell structure and making bile. Cholesterol can be found in certain foods (e.g. meats, dairy products, eggs), and is also made by your liver. Too much cholesterol can be detrimental to your health by promoting fatty plaque deposits in blood vessels, known as atherosclerosis, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.
It’s important to get your cholesterol levels checked. However the levels that most Practitioners go by, needs an overhaul. Because it has been found that if cholesterol gets too low it can cause suicide, stroke and cancer. To get your Cholesterol levels in the ideal range should be a high priority.
Cholesterol: the Good and the Bad . . .
When you get your cholesterol levels checked, you will be interested in two main types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. HDL is essentially the ‘good’ form of cholesterol while LDL is the ‘bad’ form of cholesterol. If the ratio of HDL : LDL is out of balance (i.e. not enough HDL, too much LDL), this puts you at increased risk of heart disease.
It’s imperative to identify if you have unhealthy cholesterol levels and prescribe specific natural supplements to restore balance between the good and bad types of cholesterol.
Also it’s important to get your hormone levels checked especially DHEA, Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone and Cortisol to name a few.
As explained above to treat the cause is your first step and the second step is to bring high cholesterol levels back to normal.
Here’s Four Simple Steps to Lowering Cholesterol . . .
- Step #1 = Diet and lifestyle changes must form the foundation of any cholesterol-lowering plan. Important dietary changes to improve your general cardiovascular health include:
- Eliminate damaging trans-fats found in fast foods, fried foods and baked goods. Trans-fats increase your risk of developing heart disease by increasing the ‘bad’ cholesterol.
- Increase the amount of good fats you eat from cold water fish, nuts and seeds.
- Follow the principles of eating foods that are rich in fresh fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil and garlic. People following these types of food plans have the lowest rates of cardiovascular disease in the world.
- Cut down on sugar in your diet. Soft drinks, fruit juices and processed foods frequently contain ‘hidden sugars’. When there is an over-supply of sugar the body converts this to fat which negatively affects cholesterol balance.
Decrease grains from your diet, especially refined grains like cereals, white bread, donuts etc.
Step #2 = Lose weight. If you are overweight, weight loss is an essential part of reducing your cholesterol levels. If you need to lose weight, we can support you with a clinically-proven, specialised weight loss program.
Step #3 = Get moving. Daily physical activity is vital for improving cardiovascular health, stabilising cholesterol levels and for weight maintenance. With your exercises, your goal should be to get into oxygen debt.
Step #4 = Adopt a healthy lifestyle. It is also important that you also address factors such as stress and smoking, as these can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Our Centre has specific programs if you would like to decrease your stress levels or stop smoking and they can be done from anywhere in Australia or around the world.
Start making changes today. It is never too late to improve your health, and the simple dietary and lifestyle modifications outlined here, along with appropriate supplementation, can add years to your life and life to your years!
Protecting Your Prostate
One of the most common health problems experienced by men is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH. BPH is just a medical term that means a man’s prostate gland has become bigger than it should be.
There is an impressive body of scientific evidence that supports Saw Palmetto use for BPH.
So what is the story behind Saw Palmetto?
Saw Palmetto (serenoa repens) is a plant with berries that once were a staple food and medicine for the Native Americans of the southeastern United States.
In the early 1900s, men used the berries to treat urinary tract problems, and even to increase sperm production and boost libido.
Today, research suggests the reason Saw Palmetto may help BPH is possibly due to a mild inhibition of a certain enzyme (5-alpha-reductase), as well as anti-androgenic activity and an inhibition of androgen (sex hormone) binding.
Much of the clinical work has used a special type of Saw Palmetto extract called a liposterolic extract (LESP) dosage form. The LESP form is backed up by this research, so it may be interesting to check which form is used in any supplements you may be taking.
A recent, updated review of the clinical trials concluded that LESP improves urological symptoms and flow measures compared with placebo, and that LESP produces similar improvement in urinary symptoms and flow when compared to the drug finasteride and is associated with significantly less side effects.
A study, published in the July issue of Advances in Therapy, revealed that a saw palmetto extract (SPE), SP-085, is as effective as the standard prescription drug ‘finasteride’ in blocking the critical enzyme that leads to BPH.
Further animal studies have shown that Saw Palmetto may inhibit the growth of tumour cells, indicating that it could be helpful in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Current conventional treatment of prostate cancer combines surgery (removing the prostate), radiation and chemotherapy, along with hormone blockers. Side effects usually involve incontinence and permanent impotence.
Most men are horrified at the thought of becoming impotent and incontinent. Perhaps that is why so many prostate cancer patients are seeking non-invasive, natural ways to help – such as Saw Palmetto.
Saw Palmetto is not the only natural medicine making leaps and bounds in researched treatment options for conditions of the prostate.
Only in August did researchers at Columbia University publish dramatic results of a 33-ingredient compound against prostate cancer cell lines.
The impressive results are found in the most recent publication of Integrative Cancer Therapies where Lead Researcher, Dr. Aaron Katz says the findings “demonstrate that this specific mixture is able to stop abnormal cell growth and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in both hormone sensitive and hormone resistant prostate cancer cell lines at unusually low concentrations”.
This potent natural formula combines nutrients, medicinal mushrooms, herbs, and minerals that work together to provide long lasting prostate protection. This compound could potentially become crucial in the fight against prostate cancer.
Vitamin E also features in the front line of the prostate cancer fight.
Dr. Patrick Ling, whose research will be a centrepiece of the new $354 million Translational Research Institute (TRI) when it opens in Brisbane, is leading a team of researchers who have identified a particular constituent of vitamin E that can inhibit the growth of prostate tumours.
This constituent, known as gamma-tocotrienol (γ-T3) has been found to successfully kill off prostate cancer stem cells.
All this new research is very exciting, however it is important to consult with your health care practitioner about the best options for your individual situation.
First, get the low down:
- Only males have a prostate, females do not.
- A normal prostate is about the same size and shape as a walnut.
- 2/3 of the prostate is glandular tissue that produces fluid for semen, which carries sperm during a man’s orgasm.
- 1/3 of the prostate is muscle, which contracts during an orgasm to expel the semen into the urethra.
- The prostate surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis.
- 50% of men will develop an enlarged prostate by the time they are 50 years old.
- Up to 90% of men aged 70 to 90 years old develop an enlarged prostate.
- In the United States, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and 1 in 6 will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime.
Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate include:
- Difficulty starting to urinate.
- Difficulty maintaining urinary flow, or starting and stopping when trying to pass urine.
- Needing to urinate urgently.
- Needing to urinate more frequently.
- Increase in occurrence of urinary tract infections, which may cause irritation or burning when passing urine.
These problems occur because the urethra is squashed as the prostate increases in size.
Because the prostate wraps around part of the urinary tract, when it becomes enlarged, it actually presses on the tube that carries urine, altering the ability to pass urine. See the below diagram.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a serious and troubling medical problem that requires proper management. It is important to mention that BPH is not prostate cancer, nor does it make you more likely to develop prostate cancer, however it is possible to have both.
Give Nature a Helping Hand
Zinc is like the prostate’s best friend! Zinc is an essential nutrient for men’s health, and having low levels of zinc can create health problems. For men it is particularly important to include zinc rich foods in your diet. These include Oysters, Milk, Baked Beans, Egg Yolks, Herring, Beef and Lamb, Cashew nuts, Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds.
Good News for Men with BPH
If you are sick and tired of needing to pass urine all the time, getting up in the night to pass urine and dribbling, then nature has a gift for you.
Recent research has found that a combination of herbs Saw Palmetto, Nettle root, and Small-leafed Willow are very effective at managing BPH and reducing the troublesome symptoms. A combination of these herbs can be taken in a convenient capsule to manage BPH or where there is a stong family history of BPH.
Eat your Veggies!
Recent studies have found greater consumption of dark green and cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli and cauliflower, is associated with a decreased risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
Broccoli Sprout is a ‘Super Nutrient’. Studies have shown the benefit of sulforaphane (found in broccoli sprouts) in male health, and in particular in prostate disorders.
High consumption is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer, and there is evidence that sulforaphane may prevent and induce a regression of prostate cancer.
How does it do this? By inducing phase II enzyme expression and activity in human prostate cells, sulforaphane may boost prostate cellular defence mechanisms.
Sulforaphane may also inhibit androgen receptors in prostate cells, a pathway often inhibited for prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. Sulforaphane has been seen to inhibit proliferation of human prostate cancer cells by inducing apoptosis (cell death).
Try Soy
Genistein, a natural chemical found in soy, is being used in the lab of Raymond Bergan, M.D., the director of experimental therapeutics at the Lurie Cancer Center, to inhibit prostate cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body.
So far the cancer therapy drug has worked in preclinical animal studies and now shows benefits in humans with prostate cancer.
These findings support that of 2017 and 2018 studies.
Researchers say that the amount of the antioxidant genistein, used in the experiments was no higher than what a human would eat in a soybean-rich diet. This is promising news.
Domenic Pisanelli
Domenic Pisanelli is a qualified Naturopath and has helped hundreds of people regain their health back as an experienced naturopath with over 18 years of clinical experience.