The HEALTH : August 2018 | Page 23

iron men AUGUST, 2018 | The HEALTH 23 Natural remedies for prostate health the following diet changes can help maintain optimal prostate health Tomatoes Tomatoes (especially when cooked) provide lycopene, which is critical for prostate health. Wild-caught fish Omega-3 foods like wild-caught fish, reduce inflammation of the prostate. Green tea Green tea helps with anti-ageing because it contains the highest level of antioxidants, promote detoxifica- tion and prostate health. Pumpkin seeds Pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil aid prostate health thanks to their high content of carotenoids and liposoluble vitamins. Pumpkin seeds contain zinc, which acts as a diuretic to help empty the bladder, and they reduce inflammation. This can be helpful with dealing with an enlarged prostate that causes issues with urination. Cigarette smoking linked to bladder cancer C IGARETTE smoking is one of the most important risk factors for developing bladder cancer. Smokers are four times more likely to develop bladder cancer than non-smokers. Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur Consultant Urologist Dr S A Balan explained that chemical substances that are in cigarettes gets absorbed in the body and is filtered out from the kidneys. Urine is stored in the bladder and that damages the bladder mucosa. “The bladder is like a balloon — when you pass urine it empties, when it’s filled up — it acts as a tank. As it stores urine that contains residues from the cigarette and drinks, it dam- ages the bladder mucosa.” “In the bladder mucosa also known a