Eating Habits For Prostate Health
Changing your eating habits can help maintain prostate health and prevent prostate problems. The prostate gland is under hormonal control, where testosterone is turned into DHT, and DHT is believed to be the main cause of prostate enlargement. Foods strongly influence sex hormones, testosterone included. Researchers have found that cutting out meats and dairy products and adding more vegetables to your plate turns down the hormonal stimulation of the prostate and prevents prostate problems. Men that consume meat daily are three times more at risk of prostate enlargement. Consuming milk regularly doubles the risk. Not consuming vegetables regularly almost quadruples the risk. It is reported that BPH (prostate enlargement) is increasing in Asian countries, which is believed to be the consequence of the westernization of the diet in these countries.
To maintain a healthy prostate the following measures are highly recommended:
• Eat daily 3 servings the size of your fist of complex carbohydrates. Consume dense, grainy breads, a lot of at bran, hole grains and textured wholemeal sourdough, basmati and brown rice, taro, yam, kumara, barley and bulgur wheat porridge, wholemeal pasta and noodles, untoasted muesli, Special K, All-Bran, low-fat, low-sugar biscuits made with oats.
• Try to use sugars as little as possible – even those in fruit juices, honey, dried fruits and maple syrup. Artificial sweeteners and processed sugar are better be avoided.
• Reduce intake of refined carbohydrates and processed foods, such as white flour, white rice, croissants, toasted muesli, cakes, biscuits, pastries, pies, breadcrumbs and man-made carbohydrates.
• Eat more fibrous carbohydrates than starchy ones. This means eating more salads, asparagus, onion, garlic, celery, beans, legumes; and less potatoes, rice, corn, breads and pasta. Leafy greens, yellow and red vegetables as well as cherries and berries contain great natuaral antioxidants, so make sure these are also on your plate. Include vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and kale. These vegetables activate detoxification enzymes in the liver, bind to chemical carcinogens, rendering them inactive, and improve oestrogen balance, reducing the risk of prostate cancer.
• Eat plenty of grains, fresh vegetables, and fruit.
• Add 2 to 4 tablespoons of grinded flaxseed fibre daily to cereal, porridge or salads. Fibre binds onto excess dietary cholesterol and removes it. Other excellent sources of fibre include oat bran, psyllium, and pectin or apple fibre.
• Drink 1-2 litres of pure, fresh water and herb teas, such as nettle and oat straw tea. Drink barley water and water with lemon juice.
• Eat lots of garlic, onions, leeks, shallots and chives which reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Your social life will suffer, but your prostate will be happy.
• Eliminate excessive saturated animal fats and synthetic fats, such as margarine, and heated fats, such as vegetable shortenings. Use small amounts of butter or flaxseed oil.
• Eliminate alcohol because studies show that it (especially spirits and beer) is linked to prostate enlargement. The herb hops used during the beer-making process increases the hormone prolactin, consequently increasing the prostate uptake of testosterone.
• Avoid coffee, soft drinks and excessive salt intake. Limit alcohol and caffeine. These can increase urine production, irritate your bladder and worsen your symptoms.
• Maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Cholesterol damaged by toxins can stimulate prostate cell formation. High cholesterol is also linked to enlargement of the prostate gland.
• Consume plenty of zinc-rich foods, as this mineral normalizes testosterone production. Use sea vegetables, organically grown pumpkin seeds, pumpkins themselves, sunflower seeds, garlic, bell peppers, mushrooms, bilberries, and soybeans.
• To ease inflammation, use tincture or teas of gravel root, hydrangea root, corn silk, and marshmallow root in equal amounts.
• For infection, use garlic cloves and echinacea root.
• Limit fluid intake in the evening. Don’t drink anything for an hour or two before bedtime to help you avoid wake-up trips to the bathroom at night.
• Limit diuretics. If you take water pills (diuretics), talk to your doctor. Maybe a lower dose, a milder diuretic or a change in the time you take your medication will help. Don’t stop taking diuretics without first talking to your doctor.
• Limit decongestants or antihistamines. These drugs tighten the band of muscles around your urethra that control urine flow, which makes it harder to urinate.
• Avoid overexposure to hormones. Do not use plastic containers or plastic food wrap to heat food in the microwave as plastics contain unwanted, potentially harmful oestrogens that can leach into the food, decrease removal of DHT from the prostate gland and contribute to oestrogen overload. Use glass or porcelain instead.
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