Prostate Health Supplements

Healthy prostate nutrition has been shown to be the best way to treat BPH (enlarged prostate) – all in a safe and natural way. As it is with many other physical problems, healthy diet and regular exercise help reduce the risk of prostate enlargement, while a high-fat diet (especially one high in animal fats), alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking can contribute to the condition.

PROSTATE-FRIENDLY DIET

Studies show that eating more FRUIT AND VEGETABLES appears to protect the prostate gland and reduce the risk of enlargement. Studies also reveal that butter, milk, margarine and meat seem to be associated with an increased risk of prostate enlargement.

Essential Fatty Acids

EFAs play an important role in maintaining the health of the prostate gland and improving the symptoms of prostatic enlargement. EFAs, such as omega-3 fatty acids, can be found in raw nuts and seeds, oily fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel and herring, and in extra-virgin olive oil. Sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds, along with their oils also provide excellent sources of essential fatty acids. Eating an abundance of these foods, together with plenty of fruit and vegetables, helps to maintain the health of the prostate gland and reduces the risk of enlargement. Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc and vitamin E, both of which are known to be important for the health of the prostate gland. They also contain beta-sitosterol. In a German study, pumpkin seed extract was tested on over 2,000 men with mild to moderate BPH and over 40 per cent experienced significant improvement.

Lycopene

Lycopene is one of the best natural sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants are chemicals that seem to block destructive free radicals and protect from cancer. The presence of lycopene in tomatoes is credited for an approximately one-third lower risk of prostate cancer in men who consume large amounts of tomato sauce. Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family and can be found in naturally reddish fruits, such as tomatoes, guava, pink grapefruit, watermelon and chillies. It must be included in a healthy diet because it is not produced naturally in the body. Eating cooked tomatoes and olive oil, as in the Mediterranean diet, has been shown to be able to prevent more severe forms of prostate cancer by as much as 50 percent.

Soy

Soy products inhibit the activity of the enzyme (5-alpha-reductase) that converts testosterone to DHT. Soy also contains Beta-Sitosterol that studies show reduces cholesterol and improves the urine flow, decreasing the amount of urine left in the bladder. Studies suggest that intake of natural soy foods helps reduce prostate cancer risk.

Green Tea

The difference between classic black tea most familiar to Americans and green tea is the processing. Green tea is unfermented, whereas black tea is fermented. This leaves antioxidants in green tea that help pre¬vent innumerable diseases, including prostate cancer.

Selenium

Selenium is an antioxidant that is shown to be able of prostate cancer prevention. A can of tuna has more than a day’s supply. One ounce of Brazil nut (unblanched, so none is washed away) has twelve times the daily requirement.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that slows the growth of or kills prostate cancer cells in laboratory dishes. Men taking the vitamin had a one-third lower incidence of prostate cancer and a 41 percent lower risk of dying from prostate cancer. Alpha-tocopherol, the natural form of vitamin E, is found in highest amounts in vegetable oils, nuts, and green leafy vegetables.

Zinc

ZINC, which occurs naturally in the prostate, is extremely important for its health and nourishment. A normal prostate gland usually has about 10 times more Zinc than any other body organ. Zinc supplementation has been proven to alleviate the symptoms of chronic prostatitis (bacterial infection of the prostate). Zinc shrinks the prostate gland, reduces many of the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, increases fertility and immunity, and can also reduce impotence. It works by inhibiting prolactin, which decreases the uptake of DHT in the prostate gland, and by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme (5-alpha-reductase) that converts testosterone to DHT.  Zinc can be found in fish, seafood (especially oysters) and seeds. Herbs that are rich in zinc include skullcap leaf, Siberian ginseng root, nettle leaf, and chickweed leaf, all of which can be taken for their general tonic properties.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 9th, 2009 at 9:42 am and is filed under Prostate Health Supplements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.