Edited by Sara Chana Silverstein

Prostate Health and Supplements

Can zinc supplements increase your risk of prostate enlargement?

In a current study, men who consumed more than 15 milligrams of zinc daily were three times more likely to have enlarged prostates than men who took less. The hypothesis is that zinc raises testosterone levels, which can spur prostate growth. Men who consume sufficient quantities of lean meat, eggs, legumes, seeds, whole grains, or wheat germ generally do not need excess zinc supplements.

This study focused on men who took 15 milligrams of zinc supplements on a daily basis, not on men who take extra zinc to fight off colds and the flu. Studies have shown that extra zinc is helpful in shortening the duration of these ailments.

Extra Walking May Keep You Healthy

Here is another prostate tip; exercise may reduce BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). BPH is a benign enlargement of the prostate gland that induces frequent urination. In a recent study of 51,000 male health-care professionals, it was found that the more active the man, the lower the risk of symptomatic BPH. Exercising regularly is recommended, but even minimal exercise is beneficial. In the study, men who walked two to three hours a week had a twenty-five percent reduced rate of BPH.

One way to add exercise to your routine is by parking a few blocks away from your destination, or at the end of a parking lot rather than next to the entrance.

Athlete’s Foot

Are you bothered by athlete’s foot? (Have you noticed you don’t have to be an athlete to get it?) Here is a natural remedy that may work better than conventional creams:

4 ounces vinegar
2 tablespoons tincture form of Pau d’Arco (available in health food stores)
1/4 teaspoon each of tea tree and lavender “pure essential oils”
1/8 teaspoon peppermint essential oil
Mix ingredients together in a 5-ounce or 6-ounce brown-tinted glass bottle (essential oils keep better in dark jars, available at your local pharmacy; ask the pharmacist directly).

Apply the mixture a few times daily with a cotton ball, or use as a compress to cover a larger area. Continue treatment as often as you can for at least two-three weeks.

Athlete’s foot sufferers should also try and cut down on moisture (upon which fungi thrive) by wearing pure cotton socks, staying away from sneakers as much as possible, and towel-drying carefully between toes.

Old Proverb Proved Untrue?

Benjamin Franklin said, “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Was he correct? Researchers in England surveyed 1,229 people over 65 to test Franklin’s proverb. The scientists divided the group into “larks” and “owls.” The larks went to bed before 11 p.m. and awoke before 8 a.m., while the “owls” retired after 11 p.m. and arose after 8 a.m.

When the results were in, the folks who went to bed early and woke up first were no better off than the others in terms of personal and family income, cognitive function, and overall health. Interestingly, the “owls” scored higher on socioeconomic indicators. It is also noteworthy that neither sleep pattern could be linked to improved health or mental function.