Good nutrition supports a healthy prostate and vital sex life

Your first line of defense for protecting your prostate and reviving your sex life is to make substantial reductions in your fat intake — cut back particularly on the animal and saturated fat so common to the American diet. Move away from high-fat meats and dairy products. This kind of change will help keep your prostate healthy throughout your life and enhance your pleasure.

At the same time, make sure you're getting enough of the good fats — especially omega-3 fatty acids — which are considered essential because they can only be obtained through foods or supplements. Cold water fish (salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, tuna and trout) and flax are the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids. I recommend eating salmon or other cold-water fish several times a week, and having one to two tablespoons of flax oil, or up to one-quarter cup of freshly ground flax seed daily. Flax oil should never be heated, as its EFAs are destroyed by high temperatures. For cooking, use extra-virgin olive oil.

Make a move toward whole foods, in as close to their natural state as possible.
Reach for vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. The mineral zinc is crucial to healthy prostate function, so be sure your diet includes plenty of zinc-rich foods such as oysters, pumpkin seeds, beans, and nuts. You should also cut down or eliminate your alcohol consumption — alcohol depletes both zinc and vitamin B6, which is necessary for zinc absorption. Two side benefits of these changes in diet are that you'll likely lose weight, particularly if you exercise regularly, and you'll enhance your body's immune system, cardiovascular health, and blood sugar control.