6 - How To Measure Your Prostate Health�Your Easy Self-
Assessment Test
The symptoms of prostate disorders develop so slowly that you may not be aware of the warning signs. Here�s a quick and easy way for you to measure the state of your prostate health�Ask yourself the following 10 questions. If you find yourself answering yes more often than not,
then it�s time to call your doctor.
1. Are you over the age of forty?
2. Do you find yourself frequently waking up in the middle of the night to urinate?
3. More frequently than when you were a younger man?
4. Does your urine flow uninterrupted? Or do you find yourself stopping and starting while
urinating?
5. Does your urine flow with the same intensity it did when you were a younger man?
6. After you�ve completed urinating, are you experiencing dribbles or droplets of urine?
7. Do you ever feel like you still need to expel urine as if your bladder is still full, even after
you�ve just urinated?
8. Do you ever experience a dull gnawing pain in your groin or lower back?
9. Have you ever experienced a painful sensation during ejaculation?
10. Is there a family history of cancer in your family?
7 - How To Lower Your Estrogen
Naturally
When A Good Hormone Goes Bad
Let me start by saying�not all estrogen is bad. Estrogen is the primary female hormone. Men have it naturally in small amounts. But too much is bad news. Even in women. Excessive estrogen causes cancer and other health problems in women, too. Men especially, should not have high levels of estrogen, which is exactly what environmental exposure to these chemicals is causing.
The word �estrogen� actually refers to a class of hormones collectively known as estrogens.
There are really 3 estrogens:
Estradiol�the most powerful and most carcinogenic
Estrone
Estriol�the least powerful and most beneficial, it comprises 80-90% of human estrogen
Nutrients That Lower Your Estrogen Naturally
Indole-3-Carbinol
Like DHT, estrogens can be measured in your blood. And like DHT, there are prescription drugs
that can lower estrogens. These drugs are used mainly for treating cancers in women. And they
tend to be used heavy-handedly. They are also very toxic. They come complete with side
effects - especially sexual dysfunction. But again, there are natural alternatives. And they work
just as well as their prescription counterparts. But without the side effects.\
For years, body builders and athletes have lowered estrogen by using a nutrient called indole-3-
carbinol, (I3C). This nutrient is found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels
sprouts. The available research has proven them right.
In 1997, a study published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute offered this proof.
When researchers measured urine levels, they found significantly lower estrogen levels in
patients treated with indol-3-carbinol.
Another study was published by the Journal of Nutrition in December, 2000. It found indole-3-
carbinol to be a potent, �down regulator of estrogen activity.�
I3C is available as a nutritional supplement. So in addition to eating your vegetables that contain
I3C�like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and mustard�you can get extra
protection by taking an I3C supplement. The supplement I use is taken in doses of 200
milligrams, twice a day.
Diindolymethane, (DIM)
I use another, similar nutrient that helps when estrogen levels prove resistant to treatment. It�s
called diindolymethane or DIM. It is sort of a pumped-up I3C. Athletes have found it to be
effective. A recent study on rats showed that DIM effectively inhibited estrogen activity.
8 - Choose Foods That Boost Your Prostate Health
You can protect your prostate and boost its health by making a few simple changes. A few
adjustments in your diet will produce some astounding benefits.
Fruits, Vegetables and Antioxidants
In addition to providing fiber, fruits and vegetables contain properties called micro-nutrients.
These vitamin components have the ability to act as antioxidants, protecting the body�s cells
from potentially cancer-causing oxidation. For this reason, the National Cancer Institute
recommends that eating at least 5 daily servings of a variety of fruits and vegetables may help
the body fight the onset and progression of prostate cancer.
The Process of Antioxidant Defense
Let�s take a look at a common example of oxidation: the browning of an apple when it is sliced
and exposed to air. Because the inside of the apple does not contain adequate amounts of
antioxidants at to stop the oxidation process, the apple soon becomes brown. The red-colored
skin of the apple stops this process by limiting the oxygen that contacts the outside of the apple.
Even the inside can stop the process at some point. If you slice away the brown surface of the cut
apple, you will find white apple underneath. This process of antioxidant defense is highly
developed in humans and its failure is thought to play a major role sin the aging process and its
associated disorders, such as prostate cancer.
Our bodies have both water-soluble and fat-soluble antioxidant systems. A well-known example
of the water-soluble system is vitamin C. We do not make vitamin C in our bodies and have to
obtain it from the fruits and vegetables we eat. Today, many Americans eat too few fruits and
vegetables to get an adequate amount of vitamin C.
The Secret Behind Veggies
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussel sprouts and cauliflower are wonderful for the
health of your prostate. When you eat any of these veggies, your body breaks down the
nutrients. One compound found in these vegetables is particularly important for prostate health.
It�s called glucobrassicin. And glucobrassicin metabolizes into a valuable compound called
indole-3 carbinole (I3C).I3C plays an active role in flushing your body of cancer-causing chemicals. When you eat
cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, the I3C is naturally broken down in your digestive tract.
And the end result is just what you want�DIM (diindolylmethane).
Cruciferous Vegetables
to
Glucobrassicin
to
I3C
to
DIM
It's DIM that is the most effective at clearing away the substances in your body that promote
cancer growth. DIM works to defeat the mechanism that makes cancer cells grow: rogue steroids
in the body.
These steroids cause cancers to grow in both men and women. Breast, cervical, and prostate
cancers all fit this scenario. The steroids trigger the growth of cancer cells. DIM works by
clearing these rogue steroids out of your body.
We have actually known that cancer cells grow slower in the presence of DIM for several years.
Several animal and human studies have concentrated on breast, uterine, and cervical cancer. All
have had positive results. Cancer cell growth slows down in the presence of DIM.Yet, the most impressive result was discovered in June of 2004.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
published an amazing study about DIM. Researchers at the University of California,
Berkeley discovered that when DIM was administered to prostate cancer cells, they stopped
growing. The growth of cancerous cells was reduced by 70%.
The implications of this study are astounding. This is supporting evidence that DIM may be the
most effective natural therapy available.
Improving Life with DIM
The most natural way to get DIM is through eating cruciferous vegetables. This family of
vegetables comes "prepackaged" - complete with I3C (also important in cancer fighting),
vitamins, and other nutrients.
Make vegetables a part of every meal. And make sure that you eat cruciferous vegetables at least
once a day. This is easy to do if you plan your meals ahead of time.
You can also take DIM as a supplement. A couple DIM supplement tablets can provide the
benefit equivalent to a pound of vegetables. DIM supplements are available at health food stores
and on the Internet.
I use DIM at 200-400 mg daily for men.
Vitamin E Rich Foods Protect You Against Prostate Cancer
How easy is it to cut your risk of prostate cancer? Let me put it this way�how easy is it to eat
an apple? Or would you prefer a nice juicy steak? It�s true. Eating those delicious foods gives
you protection from prostate cancer. The secret? They are rich in vitamin E.
There is clinical evidence that vitamin E can cut your risk of prostate cancer by over 30%.
We�ve known that vitamin E can help prevent heart disease for years. But research from Finland,
provides us with the first large-scale study proving that vitamin E prevents prostate cancer.
Researchers monitored over 29,000 men for up to 8 years. They took either vitamin E or a
placebo daily. The men taking the vitamin E had a
32% lower rate of prostate cancer. Also,
there were 41% fewer deaths from prostate cancer than those not taking vitamin E.16
Another report, from the well respected
Physician�s Health Study, supports the Finnish findings.
The study was a randomized, double-blind analysis of over 22,000 men. It concluded that
vitamin E was effective at inhibiting cancer.
17 The researchers concluded that vitamin E prevented cancer in a several ways:
� By neutralizing free radicals in your body.
� Protecting your cells from oxidation.
� Aiding in cell membrane stability.
� Stopping damaged cells from multiplying.
How You Can Get This Protection
The very best forms of vitamin E come straight from mother nature. You can find vitamin E in a
wide variety of foods. The best of these include:
Nuts (almonds, pistachios, walnuts, brazil nuts)
Nut oils
Seeds (the very best are pumpkin and sunflower)
Apples (and other fruits like mangos and kiwi)
Beef
Seafood (oily fish like, salmon, mackerel and sardines)
Avocados
Spinach (and other green leafy veggies like kale and collards)
Sadly, the vast majority of Americans don�t consume nearly enough vitamin E. And, it would be
very difficult to get the amounts of vitamin E used in the studies through diet alone. To get these
dosages you�ll need to take vitamin E in supplement form.
Remember that vitamin E is really a broad term for 8 related substances. They consist of 4 types
of tocopherols and 4 types of tocotrienols:
� Alpha Tocopherol
� Beta Tocopherol
� Delta Tocopherol
� Gamma Tocopherol
� Alpha Tocotrienol
� Beta Tocotrienol
� Delta Tocotrienol
� Gamma Tocotrienol
Each of these substances has their own unique protective qualities. The most effective
supplements have a mixture of these 8 substances. Some supplement manufacturers are catching
onto this important aspect.Fill your diet with foods rich in vitamin E. But in addition, I also recommend 400 IU of vitaminE daily. Try to find a blend with mixed tocotrienols and tocopherols.
Protect Yourself From Prostate Cancer By Eating Fruit
The prostate cancer fighting antioxidant lycopene, is found in some of Mother Nature�s most
delicious fruits. And adding a daily dose of these fruits to your diet could cut your risk of
prostate cancer by 50%!
Lycopene, found in the red colorings of fruit and vegetables, is a powerful antioxidant that helps
prevent damage to the DNA in cells. Lycopene is one of the key nutrients in the prevention of
cancer. When cancer is already present, lycopene slows down the growth of cancer cells.
18
The Best Lycopene Rich Fruits
You get the best sources from the reddest fruits:
� Watermelon
� Tomatoes�yes, tomato is a fruit
� Pumpkin
One easy way to get lycopene is from a tomato juice drink. It is also found in spaghetti sauce.
One 6-oz.glass of tomato juice will significantly raise lycopene levels in the blood.
The Continuous Benefits of Lycopene
A study called the Health Professionals Follow-up Study showed that men who ate at least two
servings of tomato sauce per week over the course of the 12 year study, had a 28% lower risk of
prostate cancer and a 36% lower risk of developing metatastic cancer.19 It can also reduce the
risk of disease progression by nearly 20%.
Drink to Your Prostate Health
Pomogranate Juice
Polyphenols, found in varying degrees in fruits and vegetables, are an abundant source of
antioxidants. The UCLA Medical School produced some intriguing data that showed eating
polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice can reduce PSA levels in men with recurrent prostate cancer.
After 8 months of �treatment� with 8 ounces of pomegranate juice a day, the rate at which PSA
rises over time, slowed down�significantly. Potentially indicating that drinking pomegranate
juice might delay the progression of prostate cancer.
Green Tea
Green Tea is also rich in polyphenols. And studies show the same results as with pomegranate
juice. A study in the December 1, 2004 issue of the Journal of Cancer Research, showed that
polyphenols from green tea help prevent the growth and spread of tumors. 21
How To �Spice Up� Your Prostate Health
Garlic and Other Allium Vegetables
Garlic, onions, leeks, shallots and chives contain a number of compounds that have been
associated with lower incidence of gastric and colorectal cancers.22 The mechanism by which
garlic may inhibit tumor growth in humans and animals is unknown.
However, garlic�s aqueous extracts, called alliin and allicin, have been found to inhibit human
tumor cell growth in the laboratory.
23 24 There is as yet no evidence that these substances will
reduce prostate cancer growth in animals or humans. However, garlic is one of the oldest natural
medicines known to man and can easily be included in recipes.
Spices
Spices not only add taste to food � they may also have properties that help fight prostate cancer.
Turmeric, found in curry and cumin, gets its yellow pigment from curcumin, a property found to
have anti-cancer effects in cell cultures.25 Some of the world�s lowest rates of cancer occurrence
are found in parts of India, where a variety of spices are used. Capsaicin in chili pepper also has
anti-cancer properties.
References for Footnotes
1. Lange, P.H. �Is the prostate pill finally here?�
The New England Journal of Medicine;
October 22, 1992; 327 (17): 1234-1236
2. Mayo Clinic on Prostate Health, 2
nd edition, Michael Blute, MD, editor; 2003, Mayo
Clinic Health Information, Rochester, MN:7
3. National Cancer Institute, �Understanding prostate changes: a health guide for men,�
www.cancer,gov/cancertopics/understanding-prostate-changes/page2
4. Young HH, Kent OR, �Plasma testosterone levels in patients with prostatic carcinoma
before and after treatment,� Journal of Urology 99; June 1968:788-92
5. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry 6; 1975:1272-9
6. Habib FK, Lee IR, et al., �Proceedings: plasma androgen levels and their relevance to
the diagnosis of carcinoma of the prostate,� Journal of Endocrinology 69(3); June
1976:15P
7. Gustafson O, MD, Norming U, MD, et al., �Dihydrotestosterone and testosterone levels
in men screened for prostate cancer: a study of a randomized population,� British Journal
of Urology, 77(3); Mar 1996:43
8. Moller J, Cholesterol: Interactions with testosterone and corisol in cardiovascular
diseases. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelber, Germany, 1987
9. Carson C, et al., �The role of dihydrotestosterone in benign prostatic hyperplasia,
Urology 2003, Apr; 61 (4 Suppl. 1):2-7
10. Mayo Clinic on Prostate Health, 2
nd edition, Michael Blute, MD, editor; 2003, Mayo
Clinic Health Information, Rochester, MN:8-9
11. Meng Q, Yuan F, et al., �Indole-3 carbinole is a negative regulator of estrogen receptoralpha
signaling in human tumor cells,� Journal of Nutrition, Dec 2000; 130(12):2927-31
12. McDougal A, et al., �Methyl-substituted diindolylmethanes as inhibitors of estrogeninduced
growth of T47D cells and mammary tumors in rats,� Breast Cancer Research
Treatment, Am J Clin N, Mar 2001; 66(2):147-57
13. Auborn K., et al. Indole-3-carbinole is a negative regulator of estrogen. J Nutr 2003 Jul;
133(7 Suppl): 2470S-2475S
14. Le H., et al. Plant-derived 3,3-Diindolylmethane is a strong androgen antagonist in
human prostate cancer cells. J Biol Chem 2003 Jun 6; 278(23): 21136-21145
15. Le H., et al. Plant-derived 3,3-Diindolylmethane is a strong androgen antagonist in
human prostate cancer cells. J Biol Chem 2003 Jun 6; 278(23): 21136-21145
16. ATBC Cancer Prevention Study Group. Incidence of cancer and mortality following
atocopherol
and
B-carotene supplementation. JAMA 2003; 290: 476-485
17. Christen W., et al. Design of Physician�s Health Study II- a randomized trial of betacarotene,
vitamin E, and multivitamins, in prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease,
and eye disease, and review of results of completed trials.
Ann Epidemiol 2000 Feb
10(2): 125-135
18. Financial Times Information Limited, AAP News, Perth, Australia, Dec 20, 2004
19. Zigler RG. 1991. Vegtables, fruits and caratenoids and the risk of cancer. Am J Clin
Nutr 53:2515-2595.
20. Prostate Cancer Foundation, Nutrition Brief, Winter 2004
21. Adhami VM, et. al., Oral Consumption of Green Tea Polyphenols Inhibits Insulin-Like
Growth Factor-I-Induced Signaling in an Autochthonous Mouse Model of Prostate
Cancer, Cancer Research, Dec 2004, 64:8715-8722
22. Lau BHS, Tadi PP, Tosk JM. 1990. Allium sativum (garlic) and cancer prevention.
Nutr Res.10:937-48.
23. Lee ES, Steiner M, Lin R. 1994. Thioallyl compounds: Potent inhibitors of cell
proliferation. Biochem Biophys Acta. 1221:73-77.
24. Pinto JT, Qiao C, Xing J, Rivlin RS, Protomastro ML, Weissler ML, Tao Y, Thaler H,
Heston WD. 1997. Effects of garlic thioallyl derivatives on growth, glutathione
concentration and polyamine formation of human prostate carcinoma cells in culture.
Am J Clin Nutr. 66 (2):398-405.
25. Rao CV, Rivenson A, Simi B, Reddy BS. 1995. Chemoprevention of colon
carcinogenesis by dietary curcumin, a naturally occurring plant phenolic compound.
Cancer Res. 55:259-66.