Should You Limit Your Alcohol Intake If You Have Prostate Problems?

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:59:39 +0000

Researchers have gathered data about alcohol’s affect on one’s mind and body and slowly, a more balanced picture is taking shape.

It appears that moderate conception of red wine may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Three recent Harvard studies, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, the Physicians’ Health Study, and the Harvard Alumni Study, have all shown that men who drink a modest amount of alcohol may gain substantial protection against angina, first heart attacks, recurrent heart attacks, sudden cardiac death, and ischemic strokes. There are also benefits of low-dose alcohol, including a reduced risk of diabetes, symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and erectile dysfunction.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that alcohol should be a regular part of one’s diet just as water should be. Alcohol affects everyone differently and the way it reacts to someone depends on who drinks, how much he drinks, and when he drinks. If you are someone who may be at risk for alcohol abuse, then it’s probably a good idea to forego conception, as should people with liver disease and those who require medications that may interact adversely with alcohol. Of course, no one should drink before driving or operating hazardous machinery.

But what is the right consumption for those who do not have an proclivities that might make us susceptible to alcohol abuse? For men, perhaps it is one to two drinks a day, in the form of 1½ ounces of liquor, 12 ounces of beer, or 5 ounces of wine. For women, we can only handle half as much, or so it would seem.

Although prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, its cause is still not understood. Heredity could play a factor, as could lifestyle and diet. It is thought that a leading culprit could be saturated fat derived from animal sources such as red meat and whole dairy products and a very high consumption of calcium or the omega-3 fat found in flaxseed and canola oil may also boost risk. It’s counterpart may very well be tomatoes and other vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, fish, and soy. It one is obese, the risk increases and it seems exercise may lower it. Smoking appears to have little impact.

Having multiple female sexual partners may increase the risk, but one study seemed to conclude that frequent ejaculation was a form of “protection” against prostate cancer.

Are you confused yet? Prostate cancer is complex and not completely understood. The studies thus far have been inclusive as to why it occurs and what can increase (or decrease) the risk. Some studies have shown that heavy drinking may be a risk factor, yet most studies find no link between drinking and the disease.

Prostate Health » alcohol

Should You Limit Your Alcohol Intake If You Have Prostate Problems?

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