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Can sex reduce prostate cancer risk?

Opinion & Analysis
SEX

HAVE you ever heard about claims that having more sex and ejaculating more reduces your risk of prostate cancer?

This is a health tip that may sound pretty good to many men. Have more sex, or masturbate more, and you might lower your odds of getting prostate cancer. Could it be true?

Over the years there has been growing interest in establishing a link between sex and prostate cancer.

Talk Cancer Zim continues on its mandate to raise awareness, educating various corporates within the country on prostate cancer and one of the frequently asked question encountered is, can sex affect prostate cancer risk ?

What does science really say?

Since the prostate is a productive organ that produces fluid for the ejaculate, researchers have long wondered if sexual factors influence a man’s risk of prostate cancer, some studies seem to provide good news for sexually active man.

There are some researches that have been carried out and found a possible link between ejaculation and lower chances of prostate cancer.

It seems how you ejaculate does not really matter — sex masturbation or wet dreams. However, while research is promising, there is a lot scientists need to learn, some things to consider.

Scientists do not know if ejaculation during sex versus masturbation has the same benefits, it is also unclear why ejaculation may help prostate health, experts are not sure. Some believe that it can flush out harmful chemicals that might build up in semen.

Scientists also don’t know how much sex is considered optimal for one to reduce their risk.

Some studies have, however, not found a benefit, meaning that the results are, therefore inconclusive.

Some researchers conclude that age is a more significant factor affecting risk than ejaculation frequency.

Researchers are still studying the connection between ejaculation and prostate health. So doctors may not be ready to write prescriptions for more sex yet. But since masturbation and sex will probably not cause you any health problems, there is likely no harm in doing them more often, but I would want to place an emphasis: Rather practice safe sex, HIV and sexually transmitted infections still exist.

Most things that raise a man’s odds, like age and family history of the disease, are not things that they can change, but ejaculating more? That’s a job many men are willing to take on.

However, controversy exists because no conclusive direct evidence demonstrates that the more a man ejaculates the lower his chances of getting prostate cancer.

Simply put, researchers and scientists have not reached a consensus whether sex protects us from protest cancer and to what extent.

My advice

Generally speaking there are ways to stay on top of prostate health as indicated below:

  • Various types of exercises can be helpful for men with prostate problems, kegel exercises can strengthen and train your pelvic floor muscles to help control urination. Exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming and tennis are also beneficial. Regular exercises reduce your risk exposure to other conditions such as heart disease, stroke and other types of cancer as well.
  • Eat a fresh whole foods diet, choose whole grain bread, pasta and cereals.
  •  Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, they are full of phytonutrients and antioxidants that help your prostate cells to stay healthy. Berries are highly recommended for good prostate health, men are encouraged to eat strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and cranberries.
  • Limit your consumption of red meat, including beef, pork, lamb, goat and processed meats.
  •  Choose healthful fats such as olive oil, nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans) and avocados, limit saturated fats from dairy and other animal products, avoid trans fats which are found in many fast foods and packaged foods.
  • lAvoid sugar sweetened drinks, eat sweets as an occasional treat.
  •  Cut down on salt, choose foods low in sodium. Limit the use of canned, processed and frozen foods.
  •  Cut down or cut out alcohol.
  • Go and get screened.

These can lower your chances of getting prostate cancer. Let us knockout prostate cancer!

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