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A Holistic Approach to Prostate Health: Insights from Dr. Stephen Scionti
by Dr. Stephen Scioni
A Holistic Approach to Prostate Health: Insights from Dr. Stephen Scionti Dr. Stephen Scionti, the medical director of Scionti Prostate Center in Sarasota, Florida, emphasizes the critical role of proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle in maintaining prostate health, both before and after prostate cancer surgery. His philosophy centers on creating bodily conditions that discourage the development of new cancers and support overall well-being. This comprehensive approach involves strategic dietary choices, minimizing exposure to toxins, regular exercise, and targeted supplementation.
The Foundation: Metabolic Health
A cornerstone of Dr. Scionti's advice is achieving and maintaining metabolic health. This concept revolves around selecting foods that support the optimal function of our cells. The core principles of metabolic health include:
•Eating Whole, Non-Processed Foods: The most crucial aspect is consuming real food – that is, whole, non-processed, non-adulterated, and non-modified foods. Dr. Scionti strongly advises against highly processed and ultra-processed foods, which are often loaded with chemical additives. These industrially "rebuilt" foods can contain inflammatory chemicals, and inflammation is considered an important factor in the development of cancer cells.
•Managing Blood Glucose Levels: Another vital component is avoiding sugary foods or high glycemic carbohydrates. These types of foods cause significant spikes and variations in blood glucose patterns. High blood glucose levels are linked to increased risks for pre-diabetes, diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and are associated with increased inflammation, which in turn raises the likelihood of developing cancer. Maintaining stable blood sugar through the proper selection of low glycemic carbohydrates is key.
Tools for Glucose Monitoring: For individuals, including non-diabetics, who wish to monitor their glucose levels and understand how their body responds to different carbohydrate meals, the FDA has approved continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). These biosensors, worn on the arm and connected to a smartphone, provide tremendous insight into blood glucose levels. Examples available without prescription include Abbott's Lingo and Dexcom's Stilo.
•Embracing a Plant-Based Diet: Dr. Scionti advises a diet that is heavily centered on plant-based foods, particularly a vegetable-centric diet. While not strictly prohibiting animal products, the emphasis is on a diet rich in nature's nutrients, vitamins, and supplements found abundantly in the plant world. Diets focusing on vegetables, eliminating processed foods, and avoiding sugary or high glycemic carbohydrates all contribute to a metabolically healthy diet.
Minimizing Toxins in Our Environment and Food
Beyond what we eat, Dr. Scionti highlights the importance of minimizing exposure to toxins, which are chemicals added to our food supply or encountered in daily life.
• Pesticides and Herbicides in Food: The largest potential source of toxins in our diet today is the food supply itself, particularly vegetables from supermarkets that may contain pesticides and herbicides. To counter this, it's ideal to eat organic vegetables whenever possible. If organic is not an option, focus diligently on washing fruits and vegetables to remove these harmful chemicals.
•Avoiding Plastics: There's a significant emphasis today on avoiding plastics and plasticizers. Switching to ceramic or glass containers and drinkware instead of plastic cups can be a sensible step.
•Unrecognized Toxins: Seed Oils: Dr. Scionti identifies seed oils as an often unrecognized toxin in our diet. These manufactured oils, common in the fast-food and prepared food industries, include canola oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, and corn oil. They are highly inflammatory because they have a high ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids, meaning they contain significantly more omega-6. As previously noted, inflammation is a significant driver for the growth of cancer cells.
The Power of Exercise
Exercise is another critical component of a healthy lifestyle that Dr. Scionti strongly advocates. It doesn't require living in the gym daily, but rather incorporating three key types of activity:
• Resistance/Weight Training: Aim for at least 30 minutes of resistance training three times a week. This can be done at a gym or at home, using light weights or even body weight. Also known as strength training, it targets the body's big muscle groups, improving balance and crucially, metabolic health, because muscles burn more calories and sugar than fat.
• Cardiovascular Exercise: Three times a week, engage in prolonged exercise that elevates your heart rate above resting levels. Fitness trackers like Apple Watch or Fitbit can help monitor heart rate and overall movement. Studies suggest that achieving an average of 8,000 steps a day can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, reinforcing the principle to "move more".
•Flexibility: Incorporating stretching, flexibility, and range of motion exercises is essential. This not only helps prevent injuries and keeps you moving but also contributes to feeling significantly better overall.
Strategic Supplementation
Finally, Dr. Scionti discusses the role of supplements, particularly when dietary intake of certain nutrients may be insufficient. He recommends considering:
Berries: Dark berries such as blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are highly anti-inflammatory and provide substantial support for healthy blood vessels while minimizing inflammation. Pomegranate is also included in this category.
Turmeric/Curcumin: These spices are very anti-inflammatory and should be part of one's diet or supplemented.
Green Tea: Green tea or green tea extract has demonstrated very strong cancer-diminishing activities in animal models and experimental platforms.
Vitamin D: It is often challenging to get enough Vitamin D solely from sun exposure, so supplementation is recommended.
The Holistic View
Dr. Scionti's comprehensive approach integrates proper diagnostics and precise tumor targeting, such as HIU, Tulsa, or MRI-guided cryotherapy for prostate cancer, with these lifestyle interventions. The ultimate goal is to maintain as much healthy prostate tissue as possible to preserve urinary and sexual function. By focusing on metabolic health through whole foods and blood sugar management, minimizing exposure to environmental and dietary toxins (especially inflammatory seed oils), engaging in a balanced exercise regimen, and selectively supplementing, individuals can significantly contribute to their overall health and minimize the risk of cancer recurrence.
