You may not be aware, but you’re already increasing your chance of having prostate cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), cancer is the second killer disease of men next to heart ailments. Prostate cancer is the second most popular type of cancer, just a nudge lower than skin cancer, the most common kind of cancer among male Americans.

“If you are at high risk for prostate cancer, i.e. you are African-American or you have a close family member (brother, father) with prostate cancer, you should be screened at age 40 with the PSA and digital prostate exam,” writes Carolyn C. Ross, M.D., M.P.H.

source: hu.wikipedia.org

Technically, the odds of dying of prostate cancer as the cause are incredibly high. At one point in their lives, one out of seven men will have prostate cancer.

Causes for Concern

One way or another, you might have heard a couple of these risk factors just hiding behind a fancy lifestyle. It’s high time to get yourself checked.

  1. Canned Goods

 

Canned products taste agreeable and are usually people’s go-to meal during a hectic day or when they are just lazy to cook. Aside from heart diseases, canned foods can also trigger the growth of cancer cells in the prostate gland. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is the pervasive harmful chemical used in the production of dental sealants, money, and plastics.

BPA can disrupt the normal mitosis of the cells which contributes to the spread of the cancer cells. Aside from canned goods, you might also want to quit being an enthusiast of energy drinks and mineral water that come in bottles, as well as fending off instant food that goes in microwavable containers.

 

  1. Alcohol

According to Matthew J. Edlund, M.D., “Alcohol has long been recognized as increasing the risk of many cancers.”

As much as you wanted it to be the ones you use for cleansing, sadly, it’s not that kind of alcohol; it’s the alcohol that you consume if you wish to just to relax and cool down. Liquor, not beer or wine, is the main culprit for increased risk of prostate cancer development.

 

A Canadian study stated that a lifetime of alcohol consumption could increase your probability of prostate cancer cells to form and multiply. Another survey made in Brazil indicated that cancer development is associated with a metabolite that is one of the leading ingredients of alcohol, which is known as acetaldehyde. Scientists suspect acetaldehyde of helping carcinogens infiltrate the cellular walls.

 

source: pexels.com

 

  1. Dairy

 

Protein derived from dairy products is a potential risk factor for the growth and multiplication of prostate cancer cells. The presence of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) affects male hormones that, in turn, promotes the progression of cancer cells. Furthermore, daily consumption can expedite the process of escalation of cancer cells from the prostate gland to neighboring organs and tissues.

 

  1. Acid

 

Omega-3 fatty acids, the type of acid that is known to lower the chances of prostate cancer, are abundant in fish. However, according to an Australian finding, two kinds of nutritional acids promote cancer growth in the prostate: the palmitic acid and the linoleic acid. Foods like cakes and cookies, salad dressings, and even chips are high in linoleic acid. On the other hand, lard and butter have increased palmitic content.

 

  1. Nitrogen dioxide

 

Air pollution per se is a known risk factor for plentiful of disorders, prostate cancer included. A primary element in pollution caused by vehicles known as nitrogen dioxide was linked by studies to have severe effects on the advancement of prostate cancer. Therefore, the more you get exposed to a polluted environment, the more you become prone to having prostate cancer, or any cancer for that matter. Gas with nitrogen dioxide seems to affect the immune system, rendering them incapable of stopping cancer cell proliferation.

 

Contrary to what you might be thinking right now, there are still a lot of foods that you can consume that won’t lead to the development of prostate cancer cells. Experts recommend that men should take the above-mentioned items in moderation and if in doubt, always check with your healthcare provider.

“The reason to start doing a testicular exam once a month is to learn what’s normal. Only when you know what’s normal will you be able to recognize changes in the early stages,” writes Paul Joannides, Psy.D.

 

Inconspicuous Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer