How-to reduce your risk of prostate cancer.

As a man approaching 45, I can't help to wonder about cancer and ways to possibly lessen my chances of being a statistic one day.

While reading a booklet a few days ago, I stumbled across some helpful tips for possibly reducing the risk of developing prostate cancer and wanted to share them.

Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man's reproductive system. It wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. More than 198,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed annually.

Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over age 75. Prostate cancer is rarely found in men younger than 40.

Some ways to reduce your risk are as follows:

• Limit the amount of animal fat in your diet.
• Eat one or more servings daily of tomatoes or tomato-based foods, such as tomato juice and spaghetti sauce. Tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which may protect the prostate from cancer. Other food sources contain lycopene, but tomatoes are the best source.
• Talk to your doctor about screening tests, especially if you are at high-risk -- African-Americans and men with a close relative who had prostate cancer at a young age.

Men who eat fewer than five servings a day of meat, milk, cheese, etc. have a lower risk of prostate cancer. A great deal of scientific research has been conducted to identify the properties of animal fat responsible for the increase in prostate cancer risk. One explanation is that animal fat might affect different hormone levels and increase the risk of cancer.

Cell phones and your health

An Argentine study mentioned in the July/August 2011 issue of Men's Health Magazine, p.33, explains that cell phones worn on the belt may be related to lower bone mass. "Men who regularly carried a cellphone on their right hip had lower bone mass at the top of their right femur than men who didn't carry a phone."

The study comes on the heels of a recently released report by a team of international scientists claiming a possible link between cell phone usage and cancer. Read my article published on Yahoo! and Yahoo!News, "World Health Organization unlikely to get people off the phone" for more information about the WHO classification of cell phones as potentially "carcinogenics to humans."

It's worth noting that both studies speculate that radiofrequency radiation might possibly affect cell formation and alter the natural coarse of things and lead to health-related issues.

Eating Sweets: How-to incorporate them into your daily diet.

Many parents fall into the dessert/sweet/treat reward for eating all the veggies and/or cleaning the plate. It doesn't have to be that way.

Sweets have a place in our daily diets -- even as adults! You don't have to give up your favorite cookies, cakes or chocolate treats. A vital part of the process includes cutting down on, or even eliminating, sugar from other sources, such as high fructose corn syrup.

It boils down to eating them at the right time of day to keep the pounds off and prevent them from coming back. Sweets should be enjoyed as part of a meal, or directly afterwards, according to newly published research at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and not as a snack.

If you're having difficulty keeping maintaining a healthy weight once you've achieved your goal, read "8 tips for losing weight and keeping it off."

Remember that a proper diet has many deciding factors. The most successful weight-loss program depends upon good choices, exercise and more importantly -- moderation.

Beating the Heat this Summer: Have a Healthy and Happy Season!

Delicious summer fruit and vegetables are an excellent way to help you stay cool and hydrated. Watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes and other chilled veggies and fruit will keep you calm and cool this summer.

Protect your skin. It is possible for a sunburn to elevate your glucose level and increase your risk of skin cancer as well. HealthCommunities.com recommends wearing "a shot-size dose" of sunscreen, SPF-15 or greater before venturing outside.

Forget about wearing flip-flops. Closed-toe shoes are the best choice for protecting your feet from poison ivy, cuts, bruises, blisters, insects and sunburns.

Check for ticks!  Ticks are spider-like bugs that are renowned for spreading/transmitting inflammatory diseases such as Lyme disease.

Before going indoors check your skin for ticks, paying close attention around the waistband, armpits, and in hairy locations -- such as the scalp and groin areas.

Remove ticks with fine-tipped tweezers and call your doctor if a rash develops around the bite location(s).

Big Plates Equal Big Waistlines.

Your diet plan and New Year's resolution aren't working? Take a tip from Brian Wansink. Brian heads Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab. In his book "Mindless Eating", Wansink noted that "the amount people serve themselves goes up about 22 percent" when you go from a 10-inch plate to a 12-inch plate. And since the 60's,  dinner plate sizes have increased 36 percent.

Think a 9-inch plate is better? Not likely. "Sometimes people start realizing they've served themselves less and go back for seconds and thirds," he said. It's about discipline. Decide that you are committed to becoming healthy and concentrate on serving size. Coupled with an appropriately-sized plate, your portions will satisfy and allow you to watch your waistline.

Vitamin B12 and Breast Cancer

A number of studies have revealed that women who are chronically LOW in vitamin B12 tend to develop breast cancer more readily than their counterparts.

The best food sources for vitamin B12 are seafood, meats, and poultry. To get started, here is a link to a healthy chicken sandwich: Cranberry Chicken Sandwich. Also try the chicken recipe featured here at the bottom of the blog titled, "Herb and Garlic Chicken with Citrus Pan Sauce".

Natural relief for constipation.

Constipation is defined as unsatisfactory defecation. Sometimes doctors dismiss constipation as a minor complaint. While it is generally not life-threatening, constipation is uncomfortable and can be stressful.

Assuming you are normally regular and suddenly have become constipated, it makes sense to check with your doctor. There are diseases and conditions that are directly related to constipation, such as Parkinson's disease or an underactive thyroid gland. Does being constipated mean you have a serious illness? No. But it is best to consult your healthcare provider for a candid discussion -- especially if you drink plenty of fluids and eat a balanced diet.

Diet is the key to constipation prevention. Fluids and fiber are the best combatants against irregularity. Adequate fluids (at least six 8-ounce glasses per day) and a balanced diet containing no less than 25 mg of fiber each day.

Increasing you fiber intake can be accomplished by simply consuming 6 to 9 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit every day, along with whole-grains. Foods that are high in fiber include:

• Apples
• Broccoli
• Prunes
• Raisins
• Winter Squash
• Blackberries
• Lima Beans
• Popcorn
• Chickpeas
• Bran Cereal
• Oats (Steel-cut)

For uncomplicated constipation, focus on increasing your dietary intake of these high-fiber foods. An additional source of high-fiber is flaxseed. Flaxseed is a great source of soluble fiber and while treating your constipation, flaxseed can also lower your cholesterol. Flaxseed is also another excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Simply add ground falxseed to your hot or cold breakfast cereal along with a few berries for the easiest way to inject it into your diet.