Can Pumpkin Seeds Help Your Prostate?
Pumpkin Oil Prostate Health; The campaign known as Blue November draws attention to prostate cancer and men’s health care. For many years, talking about men’s health care was not an easy task, as it was necessary to face the paternalistic culture in which the male figure had the role of provider and could never show weakness.
In addition, there has also always been a lot of prejudice around the digital examination, which made it difficult for many men to take care of their health. Although this scenario has already changed a lot, it is still necessary to increase the discussion on the subject, because there are still many men who leave their health in the background.
It was with this in mind and based on evidence showing that prostate cancer is the second most common among men in Brazil, with around 68,000 cases and 13,000 deaths per year, that the Blue November campaign was created, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis of prostate cancer in reducing the incidence of mortality. According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), one in six Brazilians will have the disease throughout their lives.
When we talk about prevention, we cannot leave aside a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and whole grains).
Therefore, in this text, we will specifically address the properties of pumpkin oil and its compounds, which help in the mission of reducing the risk of prostate cancer.
After all, what is prostate cancer?
Pumpkin Oil Prostate Health; The prostate is a gland of the male reproductive system, resembling a chestnut, which is located below the bladder and the fluid that protects and nourishes the sperm in the semen, making it more liquid. The appearance of a malignant tumor in this region is called “prostate cancer”, common in men over 50 years old and which has more than a 95% chance of cure when diagnosed early.
Another important role of the prostate is controlling the flow of the urinary jet during urination, preventing urine from mixing with sperm. In addition, the secretions produced by the gland contribute to sperm volume, helping to maintain sperm vitality and motility.
There is no specific cause for prostate cancer, however, there are some factors that may contribute to the onset of the disease, such as: family history (father, brothers, grandfather); advance in age; overweight and obesity.
At first, symptoms of prostate cancer may not appear at all.
As the tumor develops, the patient may begin to experience difficulty urinating, bleeding and urinary infections. In a more advanced scenario, bone pain or kidney failure may also occur.
Pumpkin Oil Prostate Health; The diagnosis of prostate cancer is carried out through screening tests, such as digital rectal examination and PSA blood test.
In the rectal exam, the doctor introduces the finger, protected by a lubricated glove, into the rectum, to check if there is any change in the aspects of the prostate in terms of size, shape and texture.
The PSA test is done with blood analysis in order to measure the amount of a protein generated by the prostate, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). If the result shows high levels, it could mean cancer or some benign disease in the region.
The type of treatment is stipulated according to the stage of the disease and the characteristics of the patient. Surgical procedures, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy can be performed.
Pumpkin oil: an ally in the prevention of prostate cancer.
It is not news that a healthy and balanced diet can contribute to the well-being of the organism as a whole, in different aspects. In recent years, researchers and scholars have begun to analyze the beneficial effects of pumpkin oil, derived from the seed, on prostate health.
Pumpkin Oil Prostate Health; Pumpkin seed is gaining more and more importance due to its rich nutritional composition and can be classified as a good source of protein, enabling its use in food fortification and, consequently, increasing the protein concentrations of food preparations. The evaluation of the seed powder format shows the presence of a considerable amount of minerals, such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and manganese.
Bringing anticancer, anthelmintic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, pumpkin seed is also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential for the body, and in bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, B vitamins, vitamin E and phenolic compounds ( especially phytoestrogens).
In addition, pumpkin seeds are a source of fiber, helping with intestinal transit and daily intake. When extracted by cold pressing, without going through refining processes, the oil maintains its antioxidant aspects, being rich in vitamin E, mainly tocopherol. PROSTATE MEN’S HEALTH
A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 53 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia who consumed pumpkin seed extract for 3 months. The results showed that these individuals had an improvement in bladder and urethral functions, such as urine flow, time and frequency of urination.
The importance of pumpkin seed bioactive compounds.
Pumpkin Oil Prostate Health; Indicators indicate that bioactive compounds have biological activities that influence metabolic functions, acting in the protection of chronic-degenerative diseases, such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, heart diseases and others. (9)
Bioactive compounds can be divided into phenolic compounds (polyphenols), which include flavonoids, phytoestrogens and resveratrols; lycopene, organosulfur compounds, phytosterols and dietary fiber.
Pumpkin seed has lignan-type phytoestrogens, which are phenolic compounds with estrogen-like action (female hormone that is also produced in men). (9.10)
The estrogenic effect may be protective against hormone-associated diseases such as breast, prostate, colon and other cancers. In addition, the substance also has antioxidant properties, fighting free radicals that attack cells.
Still on bioactive compounds, we should also highlight the action of phytosterols, substances that are apparently related to the reduction of cholesterol and some types of cancer, in addition to improving immune function.
As we have seen, prostate cancer, widely discussed in Blue November, can have high chances of being cured when diagnosed early. One of the ways to prevent the disease is to maintain a healthy diet and enjoy foods that can contribute to prostate health, such as pumpkin. Pumpkin Oil Prostate Health.
In the text, we specifically address the seed oil of this legume, which carries a good nutritional contribution against the problem.
Therefore, we reaffirm and support the Blue November campaign, highlighting the importance of the preventive exam as an effective method in the cure and prevention of prostate cancer, weakening the taboos and prejudices that affect men when taking care of their own health. Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer