Many people who are nearing the age that’s most susceptible of getting a disease like prostate cancer would like to learn about any methods or supplements that may help prevent prostate problems like cancer. The same is important for men who come from a family with a history of prostate cancer.
Calcium supplements for prostate cancer are among the top methods that men in their 40s and up choose to include in their diets, especially if they happen to be at a higher risk of developing prostate problems.
Finasteride and Calcium for Prostate Cancer Prevention
When considering the fact that there are ways to prevent prostate cancer, the mention of Finasteride seems to come up just as often as natural sources like calcium.
What is Calcium?
Calcium is a dietary mineral that is found in many common foods like milk, cheese, yogurt and dark green leafy vegetables, not to mention many grains and legumes like beans, lentils, peas and many nuts.
Calcium along with certain vitamins like vitamin K are best known for helping to build strong bones and teeth but there are other benefits that are continually being researched and studied in terms of prostate cancer prevention. Although there are yet to be any conclusive reports that calcium does in fact help prevent prostate cancer, one thing that all men should be aware of are the potential of a negative effect that high calcium levels may have as well.
Calcium is said to help reduce the symptoms and growth of prostate related problems like benign prostatic hyperplasia and there is even evidence suggesting benefits against colorectal cancer, however there are also reports that state high levels of calcium may cause other unwanted problems like kidney stones and even kidney failure.
Although calcium is a natural mineral that’s found in many common food sources, the possible dangers and side effects are similar to the synthetic blend of Finasteride.
What is Finasteride?
Finasteride is a synthetic drug that has several uses, including treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and male pattern baldness. Under the commercial names Proscar and Propecia, it’s mainly known for helping to treat male pattern baldness; however there have been research studies that have shown great benefits for reducing the growth of benign tumors in the prostate.
By taking Finasteride and having studies show the benefits for benign prostatic hyperplasia, many people naturally believe that it would also help prevent prostate cancer. Although it does reduce benign tumors, there are studies that suggest an increased risk of getting prostate cancer from it.
Prostate Cancer and Calcium Supplements
There are several different types or brands of calcium supplements available for anyone wanting to try and prevent diseases like cancer, however increasing calcium intake will also help with many other common problems that adult men are at risk of developing as they get older.
There have been several studies conducted for the benefits of calcium and several common forms of cancer. While there were potential benefits for preventing and treating colorectal cancer, there were also several finding that showed increased negative effects for prostate cancer and even breast cancer in men. Although calcium does have ant carcinogenic properties, they only seem to be effective against particular forms of cancer and dangerous for others.
Prostate Cancer and Calcium Intake
Since there are still many unknown side effects regarding prostate cancer and prostate related illness from having excess calcium in the diet, it’s very important to consult a physician for proper sources and amounts. Although calcium supplements are very popular for most people since they are quick and easy to take each day, there are also many dietary methods for getting adequate calcium levels for proper prostate cancer prevention.
Prostate Cancer Calcium Supplements – Dosage Amounts
When choosing to include calcium supplements in a regular diet to prevent prostate cancer, the dosage amounts vary greatly from one person to another, especially if they should have other medical health issues that require an increase of calcium.
Some of the most popular foods are:
- spinach
- collard greens
- mustard greens
- turnip greens
- tofu
With one to two servings a day of these foods in a regular healthy diet, you will be able to gain adequate amounts of calcium as most calcium supplements.
In terms of supplements, it’s highly recommended to consult a medical clinic or health professional to prescribe the best amounts for each patient’s individual age, condition and need. Since supplements are very easy to take each day, there is also a danger of getting too much calcium into the body.
The Risk Factors of Too Much Calcium
There are many factors that will determine whether a person will have positive or negative effects from taking calcium supplement or even getting it in a more natural manner. Some of the most common and most dangerous effects are kidney stones, hypercalcemia, which means there is far too much calcium in the blood and potential kidney failure.
When the excess calcium is gained from drinking excessive amounts of milk long with certain antacids (sodium biucarbonate), there is a possibility of getting milk-alkali syndrome, which is an excess amount of calcium in the blood and a change of acids and bases in the body. This syndrome can add to unwanted calcium deposits in the kidneys and tissue or kidney failure.
While there seems to be many more questions about calcium and Finasteride for treating or preventing prostate cancer, there are also potential benefits from taking calcium supplements. Since there are many factors that affect the dosage and reactions to calcium and other supplements, it’s very important to get a proper assessment from a medical health practitioner. They will not only consider the age and current health condition but also the family history with cancer, history with calcium reactions along with other potential risks that could be involved from other dietary additions.
Although calcium does seem like a natural and safe way to prevent prostate cancer, some people may feel there are simply too many potential problems involved, which is why considering many different options before committing to one is the best option each time. This is a safe method for preventing or treating a disease, though there should also be close observations to see how the body reacts to various changes in diet and lifestyle since they will affect the overall outcome in the end.
