Father's Day Prostate Health

For many years, men’s health problems have received less attention than the health concerns of women, and men are traditionally less likely to use health services, even though they are at greater risk of many health problems than women. With Father's Day on Sunday, it is a reminder for all men to prioritise their health and improve their diet and lifestyle.

At a time when the evidence supporting the health benefits of fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids is at an all time high, it certainly comes as a surprise to some to be confronted with a new study that suggests fish oils increase prostate cancer risk. A recent study that gained widespread media attention "Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids and Prostate Cancer Risk in the SELECT Trial" published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute cast doubt on Omega 3 consumption ( fish oils) in men, suggesting that it increased the risk of prostate cancer. However this trial has since been denounced due to a number of methodological flaws and has mislead the public.

Firstly, the study was not devised to test Omega 3 intake, so there was no record of dietry fish intake or fish oil supplementation in the study group. There were a number of sampling errors including measurement of phospholipids levels in plasma samples rather than red blood cell samples which is not an accurate measure of Omega 3 consumption. Finally, researchers based their conclusion on insignificant differences. As noted by the Global Organisation for EPA and DHA Omega 3 (GOED), " If the findings were true, then prostate cancer would be rampant in any country with high seafood consumption. ( Scandinavia, Japan, etc.) This is not the case." Males in Japan, while having some of the highest levels of Omega 3 in the world, also have some of the lowest rates of prostate cancer. Omega 3 fish oil is among the most well researched nutritional supplements with over 10 000 studies showing that it is beneficial for health. I regularly see the benefits of fish oil consumption in my patients' health, although it is essential to take a good quality supplement that has been screened for heavy metal contamination.

Some easy steps you can take to improve your diet and health include:

• Reduce alcohol consumption. Beer contains oestrogen-like and prolactin-like molecules from the herb, hops, from which it is made. Hence, the irony of men thinking they are being very masculine by drinking beer, whereas they are actually becoming more feminine! 
• Increase antioxidant foods such as blueberries, spinach, beetroot, pomegranate. All colourful fruit and vegetables contain powerful antioxidants that protect the prostate from damage and swelling. Make sure you eat a salad of dark green leafy and colourful vegetables every day. 
• Eat lots of anti-inflammatory foods such as sardines, trout, blue-eyed cod, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and ground flaxseeds.
• A fat-soluble antioxidant specifically found in the prostate is lycopene which is highly concentrated in tomatoes. Tomatoes yield more lycopene if cooked and are best eaten with oil to help absorb this fat-soluble antioxidant. Examples of such foods are tomato soup, grilled tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and basil, or tomato paste.
• Try a healthy drink of freshly squeezed carrot and beetroot juice, green tea or a whole juiced orange daily.
• Regular moderate exercise with stretching or yoga is essential to increase the circulation through the pelvis and for stress management. 
• The joy of sex. Excessive ejaculation causes a deficiency of zinc due to loss via the sperm, while a total lack of ejaculation causes accumulation of testosterone in the prostate. It is all about moderation!
• For smokers, quit smoking because the cadmium in cigarettes displaces zinc, causing zinc deficiency which is implicated in prostate cancer. Smoking is also toxic not only to the lungs, but has been shown to contribute to prostate enlargement ( BPH) and prostate cancer. 
• Avoid radiation from mobile phones by not wearing one on the hip or belt, right at the level of the prostate/testes. Mobile phone radiation has been found to specifically affect the hormonal glands.

There are many herbal and nutritional treatments for the prostate including Saw palmetto, zinc and selenium that are frequently prescribed by urologists in France and Germany. I urge all men to come in for a health check up and keep their prostate in good nick!

By Claudette Wadsworth
BHSc, BA, Adv DN, Nut D, DRM, PostGrad NFM, MATMS, MNHAA

Naturopath, Nutritionist, specialist in Women's Health and Fertility
Bondi Junction 02 9389 3689 and Sydney CBD 02 9268 9000
info@claudettewadsworth.com.au

Yasmin Pill- Do you know what you are really taking?

The bestselling contraceptive pill called Yasmin and it's sister version, Yaz, promise to regulate your periods, give you clear skin and erradicate syptoms of PMS-like mood swings. What is not stated on the packet is the high risk of blood clots, up to three times that of other contraceptives. A 2011 Danish study of 1.3 million women, conducted over nine years and published in the Britsh Medical Journal, found that a woman's risk of blood clot is six times higher when taking either Yaz or Yasmin compared to women not taking a contraceptive at all. Most women I consult are unaware of this danger. See my blog in May 2012 on the contraceptive pill.

Blood clots are lethal especially in young women taking this pill. They can either cause a heart attack, triger a stroke in the brain or blocks breathing in the lungs. Blood clots can also cause blindness by lodging in the artery behind the eyes. As of 2013, 13 500 lawsuits have been served in the USA against the manufacturer Bayer despite both these pills continuing to be available in Australia. Bayer has already paid out $720 million due to inadequate warnings of the blood clot risks. Due to current legal proceedings, Bayer Australia will not comment on these claims. Despite this serious side effect, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration ( TGA) has no current plans to stop the sale of these drugs.

What is also not advertised are the other common side effects of depression, anxiety and migraines which can start immediately or as a delayed reaction months after taking it. Professor Kulkarni, director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre at Monash University, Victoria says that this is due to the specific mix of hormones. Often women who come and see me do not realise that it could be the pill causing their depression and blame themselves instead. According to internet chat rooms, some women have found that their symptoms continue even after they have stopped using Yasmin or Yaz.

If you are experiencing any of these side effects, never fear. There are many herbal and nutritional supplements which can alleviate your symptoms and rebalance your hormones faster. There are also natural alternatives for contraception without these dangers to your health. I suggest either a Femcap which is a latex-free cervical cap or Natural Fertility Managment which involves understanding your fertile times using symptothermal charting. Both these methods are as effective as the pill when used correctly.

By Claudette Wadsworth 
BHSc, BA, Adv DN, Nut D, DRM, PostGrad NFM, MATMS, MNHAA

Naturopath, Nutritionist, specialist in Women's Health and Fertility
Bondi Junction 02 9389 3689 and Sydney CBD 02 9268 9000
info@claudettewadsworth.com.au

Energising Bliss Balls

These nutritious snack-sized treats will keep you bouncing with energy. Make a whole batch to keep in the fridge or freezer and take a couple to work or carry in your bag for a snack. These balls are full of anti-inflammatory Omega 3 oils, phytoestrogens from flaxmeal to balance your hormones, iron-rich dried apricots and almond protein to keep your blood sugars stable and satisfy your hunger! I use Australian dried apricots because they have a higher iron content than the sweet, yellow Turkish apricots.

Ingredients:
1 cup Australian dried apricots
1 cup organic raw almonds
1 Tb flaxmeal ( ground linseeds )
2 Tb tahini
1 tsp vanilla essence
Pinch of sea salt
Organic dessicated coconut for rolling

Method:
1. Soak dried apricots in water for 20 minutes and drain.
2. Blend apricots and almonds for 30 seconds untill almods are finely chopped.
3. Mix all ingredients together.
4. With wet hands, shape the mixture into balls and roll in dessicated coconut.
5. Store in fridge or freezer and let the bliss begin!