Ovarian cancer is to women as prostrate cancer is to men. In the United States alone, reports estimate that close to a quarter of a million men could suffer from prostate cancer – with five percent of the cases leading to fatalities.

The prostate is actually the gland responsible for producing fluids that constitute the semen. Found just below the bladder and surrounding the urethra, this fundamental part of the male reproductive system requires regular and vigilant care. Check out the following tips needed to ensure that the prostate is in tip-top shape and is free from the propensity to become cancerous.

1. Avoid excessive intake of prostate-cancer-inducing food items. These include chocolates, coffee and red meats. Plan your meals to include fruits and vegetables and lots of zinc. Remember that cancer is a compendium of several health risks. By eliminating the risk offered by a poor diet, you are taking one step farther from the dreaded disease.

2. Do the deed regularly. A stagnant lifestyle is one of the most inviting conditions for the disease. However, being married or being in a steady relationship certainly scores a lot of advantages in this area, and this is what experts have to say: Frequent and regular sexual intercourse exercises your prostate. The more active the prostate is, the less likely it is to be plagued by cancer.

(Tip: When you are doing the deed with multiple partners though, do not underestimate the need for protection. Always have a pack or two of condoms with you.)

3. Drink heartily. No, not alcohol but fresh and purified water. Dehydration can cause the prostrate to malfunction. By rehydrating your body, you are therefore subjecting your prostate to less stress – which, according to studies, appears to be one of the most common denominators of many cancer types.

4. Get yourself regularly screened for the disease. You do not have to wait until you reach forty in order to start getting scheduled check-ups. The screening will include a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level count. Usually, a higher level count indicates that your prostate is bloated and can be more prone to the disease. Aim for zero. Ask your physician for specifics.

5. Go when you have to go. Do not ignore your bladder's call for relief. So, whenever you feel the urge to take a leak, respond to that call pronto. Your urine is a waste product in itself and is understood to contain toxins. Keeping your urine inside your system for extended periods increases your body's and your prostate's exposure to these toxins. You could also develop stones.

Regular care and regular screening are oftentimes what are needed to steer clear of prostate cancer. Keep the top five tips in mind for a healthier you: Watch your diet; have fun in bed; take in lots of fluids; do not hold your urine; go get yourself screened. Prostate cancer is not difficult to battle, if you are determined to prevent its onset.