Previous studies performed in populations in North America and Europe have noted an association between a high consumption of dairy foods and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Although several studies have suggested that the calcium in milk is the trigger, the evidence is not clear.

One factor that distinguishes the Asian diet from that of the West is that non-dairy foods like grains, tofu, and vegetables are the main sources of calcium. Until now, no one has evaluated whether such calcium-rich, non-dairy foods may also result in an increased risk for prostate cancer.

The study was undertaken by Lesley M. Butler, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, and colleagues. They used data from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a US government-sponsored project, which included 27,293 Chinese men aged 45 to 74 who ate only small amounts of dairy foods. The study participants completed a food frequency questionnaire that assessed their food intake over the past year.

Among the group, 298 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. When the diets of the men with prostate cancer were compared with those of cancer-free men, the researchers found a 25 percent increased risk of prostate cancer among men who had consumed an average of 659 mg of calcium versus 211 mg daily. (Note: The RDA for men is 1,200 mg.) The men got 19.3 percent of their calcium from vegetables (e.g., broccoli, bok choy), 17.3 percent from dairy, 14.7 percent from grains, 11.8 percent from soy foods, 7.3 percent from fruit, and 6.2 percent from fish.

Because it is believed that smaller individuals absorb more calcium than do larger people, the researchers made an allowance for the smaller body mass index (BMI) among the Chinese men. Among men who had an average BMI of 22.9, there was a twofold increased risk of prostate cancer.

These findings support previous research that has indicated calcium is a causative factor of prostate cancer, according to Edward Giovannucci, MD, ScD, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health, who has conducted research in this area himself. Giovannucci, who was not associated with this specific study, noted that the study raises some questions.

“First, they found an association with relatively low intakes of calcium, whereas most previous studies suggested an association with high intake of calcium,” he said. He also pointed out “they found an association mostly in lean men, and whether this is true or is a chance finding requires further study.”

The results of this study suggest that even non-dairy calcium increases the risk of prostate cancer, and that the amount of non-dairy calcium men eat that may result in prostate cancer is low.

If you like the post please Share it, Tweet it, Post it, Like it, Digg it or do something with it to build awareness :-)

Reference

Butler LM, Wong AS, Koh W-P, et al. Calcium intake increases risk of prostate cancer among Singapore Chinese. Cancer Research 2010 Jun 1; 70(12): 4941-48.

How much do you know about erectile dysfunction? Answer True or False to each of the following statements.

1. Most men who experience ED are older than 65

2. Erectile dysfunction is usually a psychological problem, not a physical one.

3. A urologist can help with treatment for ED.

4. Erectile dysfunction affects men in different ethnic groups about equally.

5. Erectile dysfunction is a common challenge among men who have diabetes.

6. The most common physical cause of ED is any condition that impacts the blood vessels.

7. Prescription drugs for other medical conditions can cause erectile dysfunction.

8. A prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate) can result in ED.

9. Smoking has no impact on the ability to achieve and maintain an erection.

10. Kidney disease may have a role in erectile dysfunction.

11. Prescription drugs for ED are safe for most men except those who take nitroglycerin or blood thinners.

12.Testosterone deficiency is a common cause of ED.

13. If prescription ED drugs don’t work, there isn’t much else a man can do to effectively treat ED.

14. Herbal supplements can be used to treat ED.

15. The three prescription drugs used to treat ED cause little or no side effects

ANSWERS

1. True. However, that does not mean younger men are not affected. The actual statistics are a bit hard to nail down, but according to the National Institutes of Health, about 5% of 40-year-old men and between 15% and 25% of men age 65 experience ED on a long-term basis. For a greater percentage of men, ED is an occasional occurrence. According to the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which collected data from 2,126 men, ED sometimes affects 6.5% of men ages 20 to 29, 3.8% of men 30 to 39, 8.2% of those 40 to 49, 23.9% of those 50 to 59, 43.7% of men 60 to 69, 60.2% of men 70 to 74, and 77.5% of those 75 and older.

2. False. Although ED can be caused by psychological or physical factors or both, in most cases there is physical (organic) reason. Some of those physical reasons include diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Peyronie’s disease, and high blood pressure.

3. True. A urologist is a specialist who handles health issues related to the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive system. He or she is likely best suited to address your concerns about ED.

4. False. Hispanic/Latino men have about twice the rate of ED as their Caucasian and African American counterparts.

5. True. Erectile dysfunction affects 50 percent or more of men who have diabetes. That’s because the disease damages the nerves and blood vessels involved in achieving an erection.

6. True. Good blood flow is critical for an erection, and vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease, diabetes, and coronary artery disease, can restrict blood flow to the heart, penis, lower extremities, and other sites in the body.

7. True. More than 200 different prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause or contribute to ED and other sexual difficulties. Some of those drugs include antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, antiseizure medications, diuretics, muscle relaxants, and antihistamines, among others.

8. True. The surgical procedure to remove the prostate gland (prostatectomy) results in erectile dysfunction in a significant percentage of men. The American Cancer Society reports that after standard (not nerve-sparing) prostatectomy, between 65 and 90 percent of men experience ED, depending on their age. Men who undergo nerve-sparing prostatectomy fare better: more than 80 percent were potent 18 months postsurgery, according to one study. However, other studies report a much lower percentage.

9. False. Smoking can damage blood vessels and also restricts blood flow, therefore it can have a negative impact on the ability to achieve and maintain an erection.

10. True. Between 21% and 43% of patients who have kidney disease and who are on dialysis or have received a transplant experience ED. Kidney diseases can cause changes in the body’s hormones and have an impact on blood circulation, muscle function, and nerve function, all of which can affect the ability to achieve and maintain an erection.

11. False. Men who have any of the following health conditions are strongly urged to consult their physician before taking an ED drug: stroke, very low blood pressure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe heart disease or heart failure, uncontrolled diabetes, liver or kidney disease, hemophilia, stomach ulcers, retinitis pigmentosa, or a blood cell disorder such as leukemia or multiple myeloma.

12. False. Testosterone deficiency is not a common cause of ED. As many as 70% of chronic ED cases are attributed to diseases (e.g., diabetes, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, alcoholism), and psychological factors may account for up to 20%. That leaves 10% to 20% for testosterone deficiency and other causes, such as spinal injuries, surgery, use of prescription medications, and obesity.

13. False. Several other options include use of a penis pump, a penile implant, alprostadil (a synthetic version of a hormone called prostaglandin E), testosterone therapy (if there is a testosterone deficiency), and various herbal remedies. Counseling may be helpful as well.

14. True. But with a caveat. Many of the claims about the ability of herbs to improve sex drive and erections are anecdotal, and the available scientific evidence is limited or questionable. Supplements have been shown to be helpful in some men and not in others. Anyone interested in taking herbal remedies for ED should investigate them fully and consult a knowledgeable healthcare professional.

15. False. Although the majority of men who take any of the three prescription drugs for ED will experience only mild side effects, about 15% will have headache and flushing may affect 10%. Other symptoms typically affect less than 10% of users and may include heartburn, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, stuffy nose, urinary tract infection, diarrhea, abnormal vision, rash, muscle pain, back pain, and sneezing.

In the University of California study, which was published in the journal Cancer, researchers evaluated data from more than 10,000 men who had participated in the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. They discovered that men who reported heavy alcohol use (50 grams or greater of alcohol per day) and regular heavy drinking (4 or more drinks per day on 5 or more days per week) were at least twice as likely to be diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer.

Researchers also compared the mens drinking patterns with treatment outcome among those who had taken the prostate drug finasteride with those on placebo. Finasteride can be used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy and to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The investigators found that among the men who were taking finasteride, drinking 50 grams or more of alcohol daily resulted in an increased risk of low-grade prostate cancer. Among the men who were taking finasteride but who drank less than 50 grams of alcohol daily, there was a 43 percent reduction in the risk of low-grade cancer.

The researchers concluded that heavy, daily alcohol consumption increases the risk of high-grade prostate cancer. They also found that men who take finasteride and who also are heavy alcohol users lose the benefit of a reduced risk of prostate cancer associated with the drug.

Reference

Gong Z, Kristal AR, Schenk JM et al. Alcohol consumption, finasteride, and prostate cancer risk: results from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. Cancer 2009 Aug 15; 115(16): 3661-69

A research team from the University of Washington in Seattle analyzed the risk of prostate cancer among 22,562 men who had been evaluated for infertility at 15 fertility centers in California over a 30-year period. The incidence of prostate cancer found in these men was compared with the incidence in men of similar age and geographic location from the general population.

A total of 168 men from the fertility centers developed prostate cancer, which is close to the expected rate of 185 cases. Therefore, it appears that men evaluated for infertility have no greater risk of developing prostate cancer than men in the general population. However, men who were infertile were 2.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer than men who were evaluated but were not infertile.

The authors believe if these results, which were published in the online journal Cancer, are supported by subsequent studies, men who are infertile perhaps should consider early prostate cancer screening.

Reference

Walsh TJ, Schembri M, Turek PJ et al. Increased risk of high grade prostate cancer among infertile men. Cancer 2010 May 1; 116(9): 2140-47

Chemical giant Monsanto is the king of genetically modified soybeans. Along with the fact that no one has definitively determined that genetically modified soybeans (or other GM foods) are safe (the fact that no one has definitely linked any deaths or serious illnesses to consumption of GM foods does not mean they are safe), these beans require more pesticides than conventional soybeans, yield smaller crops, and appear to be responsible for the growth of resistant weeds.

Then there’s the question of allergies. Scientists have long known that GM crops might cause allergies, but there are no tests to prove in advance that a GM crop is safe, because people usually don’t display allergic reactions to a food until they have eaten it several times. Soybean allergy is one of the more common allergies that affect people. In March 1999, researchers at the York Laboratory in the United Kingdom found that allergic reactions to soy had risen by 50 percent over the previous year, just when GM soy had entered the UK from the United States, and the soy used in the study was mostly GM. John Graham, a spokesperson for the York lab, said, “We believe this raises serious new questions about the safety of GM foods.” (Organic Consumers Association 2007)

Aside from the questions concerning the safety of GM soybeans, there is the monopoly Monsanto has on its seeds. Monsanto forbids farmers who buy its GM soybean seeds to save seed—a common practice among farmers—which means farmers must buy new expensive seed from Monsanto each year. Because the seeds are genetically modified and thus a creation of Monsanto (and other companies that do the same), the companies have control over the seeds, the plants, and every generation of offspring from those plants. Monsanto actively stalks farmers and looks for those who may break the contract and sues them. (Organic Consumers Association 2000)

More than 90 percent of the soybeans raised in the United States are genetically modified. In fact, Monsanto’s “Roundup Ready” soybeans made up 92 percent of the US soybean acreage in 2008. The good news is that consumers are not happy with GM soybeans, and there is a growing interest among farmers to grow non-GM beans, according to a recent article in The Organic & Non-GMO Report. (The Organic & Non-GMO Report)

I recently wrote to the Customer Service section of Vital Choice to get their response to a question on whether their canned seafood contained BPA as most of the public concerns over BPA arise from its use as a liner in food cans as well as in plastics and other containers as well as paper products. Vital Choice is a provider of seafood and other foods. We eat their products at home and order them over the Internet. Its a great Company and we wanted to make sure that we were getting the highest quality foods with minimal risk of BPA exposure. Their response indicated that they were unique in certifying their cans BPA Free but that their had been some detection of BPA in their canned seafood found by the Consumers Union.

Vital Choice is one of a limited amount of companies that certify their cans BPA free so overall I think they are pretty good choice, especially considering they are trying to lead the market in being BPA free. Here is their reply:

“Hello Craig,

Thank you for choosing Vital Choice Wild Seafood & Organics. The Tuna, Salmon, and Sardine cans are all made of steel, not glass. Vital Choice uses only cans, can lids, and other packaging from suppliers who certify that the linings, lids, and packaging are made without BPA.

Among sellers of canned fish, this policy appears to be unique to Vital Choice. Our canned salmon shows no traces of BPA, nor do our sardines or mackerel. However, Consumers Union detected minuscule traces of BPA in our canned and in all the canned tunas and other canned foods they tested.

We are still trying to determine the source of the BPA Consumers Union detected in our canned tuna with olive oil only. Tests from independent labs show that the levels found are very low: about 12 parts per billion. We continue to search for the causes.

Please let me know if I can be of further assistance

http://www.vitalchoice.com

Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe) is an evergreen tree that grows in various locations throughout the African continent. Traditionally yohimbe was used in Africa to treat fever and leprosy, and as an aphrodisiac. The bark of the tree contains alkaloids, the main one of which is called yohimbine, which you may recognize as a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction, although it is rarely used today since Viagra and other ED prescription drugs hit the market.

Yohimbe bark extract, however, is popular among some men who use it to treat erectile dysfunction, even though there is scant evidence that it works for this purpose. Yohimbine, on the other hand, has been shown in some studies to relax and dilate blood vessels in the penis, which results in an erection. Not all studies of yohimbine and ED have resulted in positive outcomes, however. While one small study found that yohimbine helped men whose ED was caused by a physical problem (Guay 2002), another reported that yohimbine was no more effective than a placebo. (Morales 1987)

As a dietary supplement, the dried bark of the yohimbe tree is available in capsules, tablets, and as a tea. Because the dose range is very narrow – take too little and it doesn’t work and take too much and it is toxic – use of this herb is not recommended. The Food and Drug Administration has received reports of seizures and kidney failure associated with use of this herb. Even normal “safe” dosages may cause dizziness, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, a rise in blood pressure, and rapid heartbeat, and overdose can be fatal. Although you will see claims on the internet that this herb can produce great results in the bedroom, there are many other herbal remedies for ED that are much safer and likely more effective.

Good or bad prostate eating habit?

Scientists have known for about 80 years that BPA acts like a synthetic estrogen, but that has not stopped the food industry from using this endocrine disruptor in the lining of food cans. An endocrine disruptor is a substance, like BPA, that can disrupt how hormones transport messages in the body. Because it takes very few hormone molecules to carry messages, endocrine disruptors can cause chaos at very low concentrations, even as low as a few parts per trillion of BPA.

A recent study called “No Silver Lining” has brought the health dangers of BPA in canned foods to the public’s attention. The study, which was conducted by the National Workgroup for Safe Markets, tested 50 brand-name canned foods, including fruits, vegetables, soups, fish, and soft drinks, from 19 cities in the United States and from Ontario, Canada. For each canned food, the researchers selected one from a store and one from a person’s pantry in the same city.

The investigators found BPA in the food in 92 percent of the cans tested. In some cans, the BPA was identified at levels higher than what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows.

Prior to the “No Silver Lining” report, hundreds of other studies found that exposing animals to low doses of BPA is linked to cancer and a host of other serious illnesses. According to Bobbi Chase Wilding, a co-author of the report and the organizing director of Clean New York, “it takes as little as one serving of canned foods to expose a person to levels of BPA that have been shown to cause harm in laboratory animals.”

If you consider the cumulative effect of eating BPA-contaminated food several times a day, perhaps day after day, people may be exposing themselves and their family to dangerous levels of this hormone-disrupting chemical. BPA exposure is especially worrisome for pregnant women, babies, and young children. In fact, the Environmental Working Group conducted a study in which it found BPA in the cord blood of newborns.

“No Silver Lining” reports that the cost of the canned food did not have an impact on whether BPA was detected, nor where it was purchased or the relative nutritional value of the food. BPA levels also varied dramatically, even between cans of the same product. For example, one can of Del Monte French Style Green Beans had 36 micrograms of BPA per serving, and another can of the same product had 138 micrograms per serving, which is a level that has been associated with changes in prostate cells in animals. The National Toxicology Program has stated it has “some concern” that BPA modifies the prostate gland in children before and after birth.

As a consumer you have several choices: you can choose fresh or frozen foods, or select foods that come in glass containers or aseptic packaging (e.g., Tetra Pak). Several manufacturers of canned foods, including Muir Glenn Eden, have decided to stop using BPA. Others will likely follow suit, but for now the majority still use the toxin. Also, avoid storing or reheating food in plastic containers with the number ’3′ or ’7′ in the recycling triangle.

Avoiding BPA in your food is an important way to protect your prostate health and your overall health as well. Other products that may expose you and your family to BPA include water bottles (choose stainless instead), dental sealants, thermal receipt paper, printer toner, DVDs and now, paper receipts.

Here are some of the findings from “No Silver Linings.”

Foods with the Highest Levels of BPA

(ppb = parts per billion)

• DelMonte French Style Green Beans: 296.2 ppb (store) and 1,140 ppb (pantry);
• Great Value (Walmart’s in-store brand) Sweet Peas: 329.3 ppb (store)
• Healthy Choice Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup: 323.6 ppb (pantry)
• Healthy Choice Old Fashioned Chicken with Rice Soup: 172.4 ppb (store)
• Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup: 130.4 ppb (pantry)
• Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup: 120.7 ppb (pantry) and 127.6 ppb (store)
• Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom, 25% less sodium: 92.6 ppb (store)
• Goya Coconut Milk, 82.2 ppb (pantry) and 77.6 ppb (store)
• Goya Pink Beans: 80.3 ppb (store) and 76.5 ppb (pantry)
• Organic Light Coconut Milk: 74.6 ppb (store)

Foods with the Lowest Levels of BPA

(ND = none detected)

• Coca-Cola, diet, caffeine-free: ND (store) and 0.4 ppb (pantry)
• Coca-Cola, diet: ND (pantry) and 0.7 ppb (store)
• Coca-Cola Classic: 0.2 ppb (store) and 0.4 ppb (pantry)
• DelMonte Yellow Freestone Peaches in Light Syrup: 1.2 ppb (pantry)
• Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes: 1.9 ppb (pantry)

References:

Environmental Working Group. Human Toxome Project. www.ewg.org/sites/

humantoxome/participants/participant-group.php?group=

In+Utero/newborn

National Workgroup for Safe Markets. No Silver Linings: An Investigation into Bisphenol A in Canned Foods, 2010.