Changes in PSA recommendations this month by the American Urological Association’s (AUA) resulted in similarities with those of the US Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF). The alignment may simplify patient-physician “shared decision making” with regards to PSA screening. In 2012, the USPSTF’s statements concerning PSA caused an uproar because it discouraged routine PSA screening for…
A new urine test for prostate cancer is available. The Mi-Prostate Score (MiPS) test from University of Michigan MLabs measures minute fragments of RNA. The test improves the utility of the PSA blood test and increases doctors’ ability to pick out high-risk prostate tumors from low-risk tumors in patients. Prostate cancer affects one in six…
Garlic health benefits for men might surprise you. We all know that garlic tastes good, but this member of the lily family also packs in the nutritional benefits for men. It is a safe and inexpensive way to eat well to be well, and it is well documented that people have been eating garlic for…
The PSA test is usually the first indicator that something is wrong with a man’s prostate. An elevated PSA may indicate prostate cancer, but it can also be the result of many other situations. For example, an above normal PSA may indicate any of the following: prostate cancer; prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate); benign prostatic…
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant whose main tasks are to fight free radical production and activity and to help with immune system functioning, cell signaling, and metabolism. The form of vitamin E used in most studies and found in most supplements is alpha-tocopherol, although it should be noted that there are eight forms of…
Despite all the powders, pills, and elixirs out there, nature’s simpler foods are often the best performers. Taking supplements can be a smart way to fill in nutritional gaps, but eating real, whole foods will always be the bedrock of a healthy diet. It can be tricky, though, to know which to pick, what they…
Here’s some good news for those who are looking for any excuse to spend more time in a sauna. A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine notes there is evidence that saunas improve heart health and longevity. Regular use of a sauna, which translated into four or more times a week, was associated with…
Here’s some bright news about the sunshine vitamin: a French study suggests getting more vitamin D can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This study focused on vitamin D from food and not from exposure to sunlight nor use of supplementation. The vast amount of research regarding vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D intake…
Millions of men in America take a multivitamin daily, yet it appears they may be wasting their time and money as well as fooling themselves into believing they are doing something good for their health. At least that’s part of the story from a recent research paper appearing in the Journal of the American Medical…
Turn up the heat and boost your heart health: that’s the message from a new study on capsaicin, a component of chili peppers, also known as cayenne peppers. Experts at the 243rd National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society explained that capsaicin benefits the heart in several ways. Previous studies have noted other…
Whether you are a runner, a weight lifter, a CrossFitter, a moderate bike rider, or a weekend warrior, joint pain can affect your performance and your enjoyment. You can tackle this challenge by selecting from a wide variety of oral and topical anti-inflammatory and pain medications, injections, and natural supplements or signing up for physical…
Is organic better for you? With all the conflicting information on the Internet about organic vs. conventional food, it is hard to know if it is worth the extra money to purchase organically farmed food. Is the real cost in buying the food or in your long-term health? For years, many studies have shown that…
Bladder cancer risk factors come from a combination of environment and genetics. Bladder cancer is the fourth most common internal cancer in males. The most common bladder cancer risk factors are smoking, obesity, hypertension, unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise. Having been treated with chemotherapy drugs such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) or radiation for past cancers…
Urinary incontinence causes can cover a range of issues, but the result is the same: urine leakage. The cause of each type of urinary incontinence is different. Understanding urinary incontinence causes is important because it can help your doctor and you decide on the best course of treatment for incontinence. First, however, it is helpful…
So you have hit or passed the big half century mark and you figure, “Well, there’s not much I can do to improve my health at this point,” how wrong you are! Don’t believe the many falsehoods and misconceptions that exist about what a man should or should not do after reaching a “certain age.”…
Blueberries not only taste great; they are also an excellent source of phytonutrients, especially the potent antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which give the berries their color. Other phytonutrients in blueberries include caffeic acids, coumaric acids, quercetin, pterostilbene, and resveratrol, among others, and virtually all of them work together to provide both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits….
You have heard all the benefits of including lots of plant-based foods in your diet, and you’re ready to give it a try. Great! Here are eight suggestions on how to get more plants in your diet. Do it gradually. A sudden increase in the amount of beans and legumes in your diet will likely…
No aspect of wellness is as loudly debated as how we should eat. People just don’t argue over styles of yoga, meditation, or exercise the way they do about food. As a cardiologist, my bias is toward science. I’m interested in an analysis of research data so that I can make recommendations to my patients for optimal…
Vitamin D has been credited with many health benefits, but here’s one you may not have heard about. A deficiency of vitamin D has been associated with a greater prevalence of urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor disorders. Study participants who had vitamin D levels lower than 30 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) had a 170…
Tomatoes are a popular food as well as a superior source of lycopene, a phytonutrient, or more specifically a carotenoid, one of a group of yellow, orange, and red pigments found in plants. Lycopene is a potent antioxidant that has proven itself in study after study to have properties that enhance prostate health. Tomatoes are…
