Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

cancer coach
Take charge of your health with cW’s resident cancer coach guiding you through the power of healthy foods and supplements.

When I thought about the column topic for this men’s health issue, I remembered previously preaching about getting men out of the house and to the doctor. While I still very much hope that men are taking care of themselves so they can stick around longer, this time I would like to share some of the holistic wonders out there—specifically for men. In addition to healthy food options, there are a number of male-specific supplements available that, if taken regularly, can help prevent illness and promote a better quality of life.

According to the National Library of Medicine, one in five men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. About 250,000 men are diagnosed every year in the U.S., and about 35,000 die from it. I read these statistics and I just can’t believe they are true—but they are.

Susan Smith Jones, a renowned holistic nutritionist, talks about five super foods that can prevent prostate cancer: sprouts, greens, tomatoes, nuts, seeds and green tea. All of these ingredients are super easy to incorporate into your daily menu. 

When thinking about “greens,” you can reach for almost any of them. Kale, mustard greens, broccoli, romaine lettuce and brussels sprouts are all worthy options. 

There are a number of male-specific supplements available that can help prevent illness and promote a better quality of life.

Additionally, nuts and seeds can be a great topping on most dishes, but remember that the whole nut or seed is better than the buttered version. Even easier, green tea is the most super of superfoods! While some say there is not enough research to support that green tea can help prevent or treat cancer, China and Japan have both used medicinal green tea for thousands of years.

In terms of supplements, saw palmetto extract has long been advertised for men to aid in increasing libido but it actually has been used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including enlarged prostates. 

When it comes to multivitamins, a Physicians’ Health Study found that men who took a daily multivitamin showed a significant reduction of total cancer.

While I am not always a big proponent of multivitamins, I am elated to hear these results. Personally, I prefer taking supplements individually and only for a specific period of time before I change it up. But if you don’t want to deal with figuring out which supplements to take and when, find a good daily multivitamin. 

When I say “good,” I’m stressing that generic pharmacy brands aren’t always best. These brands tend to contain sand or other fillers and may not hit high daily doses. They also tend to contain a heavy gelatin coating that may not break down in the body. 

Avoid chain stores and opt for a local vitamin establishment instead. Ask for a recommendation from the staff. I owned a health food store for a few years with my mom, and we immersed ourselves in providing the best information for our clients. 

And, as always, be sure to check with your medical team before establishing your new supplement routine.

In closing, I leave you with a quote from Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher Thomas Carlyle: “Ill health of body or of mind is defeat. Health alone is victory. Let all men, if they can manage it, contrive to be healthy!”

Stay well and enlightened until next time!

More
articles

getting hot
Coping Strategies & Techniques

It’s Getting Hot in Here

In August’s Everyday Runway column, Melissa Berry shares with readers her “Menopause Survival Kit” and the items she uses to beat the heat!

Read More »
LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER
Clean Beauty

Looking Good, Feeling Better

Look Good Feel Better, a free program dedicated to helping participants with managing the appearance-related effects of cancer, is providing renewed hope and confidence to warriors everywhere.

Read More »
pfas
Cancer & Environment

The Pain of PFAS

PFAS are found in everyday products from makeup to food packaging and may increase cancer risk, but the U.S. has fallen short when it comes to protecting consumers from these “forever chemicals.”

Read More »
JESSICA WALKER
Essays

The Middle of the Storm

After running herself ragged, trying to be the “perfect” caregiver, Jessica Walker realized she was not only doing herself a disservice, but her husband, too.

Read More »