Supplements That Show Promise
Other supplements show hopeful signs of helping in studies so far, but thereâs less research on these than the more common options.
Pumpkin seeds: These and pumpkin seed oil extract seem to help with BPH symptoms and may shrink the size of the prostate. It may also be helpful when used along with other supplements such as saw palmetto.
Stinging nettle: This is a type of herb, and its root may help with urine flow and waking up a lot at night to pee. Itâs sometimes used along with other supplements to treat BPH symptoms.
An Active Yet Noninvasive Therapy
âMany men on active surveillance are anxious about doing ânothingâ for their prostate cancer. This study has the potential to provide both patients and providers with an active yet noninvasive therapy that could benefit not only their prostate cancer, but also their overall health and quality of life,â Wright said.
âWe all have busy lives and priorities that make it difficult to stick to a diet and exercise regimen,â he said. âPart of our goal here is to prioritize a shift in lifestyle through a structured, supervised program that participants can sustain after the study concludes.â
This intervention, which is modeled on the National Institutes of Healthâs Diabetes Prevention Program, has a track record of success for participants keeping the weight off years later. âThe DPP has been shown to help participants â both men and women â lose up to 7 percent of their body weight after the six-month intervention and keep the weight off 10 years later,â Wright said. âThis is the first time, to our knowledge, that the intervention has been done solely in male cancer patients.â
Findings from this study, Wright said, will help researchers understand how obesity affects prostate cancer outcomes, and it could have âa profound impactâ on clinical practice by providing a lifestyle intervention as a therapy for men, like Asay, who opt for active surveillance.
Study: Mans Height And Weight Can Affect Prostate Cancer Risk
CLEVELAND September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the U.S., with more than 100,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
A recent study looked at height and body mass index to see how they might impact a mans risk of developing prostate cancer.
Eric Klein, M.D., of Cleveland Clinic did not take part in the study, but said the results show that body size seems to impact the severity of the risk.
It turns out that taller men, and men who have bigger body mass indexes are at higher risk of high grade prostate cancer, and also are at higher risk of dying of prostate cancer, said Dr. Klein.
Dr. Klein said previous research has shown a connection between obesity and the risk of developing high grade prostate cancer, however the relationship with the height factor has not been noted previously.
Researchers surveyed data from more than 100,000 men and found that for every ten centimeters in height, the risk of developing an aggressive prostate cancer grew by 21 percent.
Dr. Klein said there are several possible factors at play, including the fact that more body mass means more blood, which could dilute the results of a PSA blood test, and perhaps lead to a biopsy being performed at a later time.
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Whos More Likely To Get Bph
You may have a greater chance of an enlarged prostate based on your:
- Age. BPH is more common the older you get and doesnât usually affect men younger than 40.
- Family history. If your dad or your brothers have the condition, you have a higher chance of getting it, too.
- Ethnicity. This affects black and white men more often than Asian men. Black men may get symptoms at a younger age.
Some health conditions can also raise the odds youâll get BPH, such as:
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An Introduction To Eating For A Healthy Prostate
An enlarged prostate diet is a key aspect of promoting prostate health naturally, as there appears to be a connection between the diets of different countries, and the extent to which people there suffer from prostate problems.
The highest rates of prostate disease are observed in Western countries such as the USA and United Kingdom, where typical diets are often high in saturated and trans fats, sugar, salt and simple carbohydrates like white bread. The lowest rates are seen in Asian countries such as Singapore, as diets here tend to include more fruit and veg, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates.
An enlarged prostate diet includes plenty of leafy green vegetables, seeds and nuts, and should exclude alcohol, caffeine and excess sugar. Read on to find out more about the foods you should and shouldnt eat for your enlarged prostate.
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Tips For Relieving Bph Symptoms
Four simple steps can help relieve some of the symptoms of BPH:
For more on advances in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate diseases, read the Annual Report on Prostate Diseases from Harvard Medical School.
What The Body Does When Theres No Food Coming In
When we consume a Western diet, typically high in processed foods, our bodies get plenty of sugars and starches to convert to glucose. Glucose is what the body then metabolizes for energy. This constant supply of easy energy is not good for us because it throws off our metabolic balance. At worst, we develop chronically elevated blood sugar, insulin resistance, and inflammatory agents. This has led to an epidemic of conditions characterized by metabolic disturbances, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome , and diabetes mellitus type 2. In addition, low levels of chronic inflammation set up precursor conditions for many types of cancer, including prostate cancer.
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About Half Of Men Older Than 50 Have An Enlarged Prostate Here Are Some Of The Basic Facts You Need To Know About This Common Condition
As men age, many experience prostate gland enlargement. This condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia .
The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the hollow tube that carries urine out of the body. When the prostate gets bigger, it can squeeze or partially block the urethra, which leads to problems urinating.
BPH is quite common in older men. In fact, the condition impacts about 50% of men between the ages of 51 and 60. For men 80 and older, the prevalence of BPH is approximately 90%, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Other Things You Can Do For Your Prostate
- Take zinc, which is excellent for the health of the prostate. Zinc is found in oysters, but you may not realistically want to add these to your regular menu, so check out pumpkin seeds, oats, peas, barley, almonds, buckwheat, brown rice, adzuki beans, eggs, apples and onions as alternative sources.
- Take Essential Fatty Acids , which may help reduce inflammation in the prostate. These are found in nuts and seeds, or you can take an Omega 3 supplement daily.
- Pumpkin seeds contain both zinc and EFAs and are therefore a good snack food to munch on.
- Being overweight increases the severity of symptoms, so whilst youre cutting down the alcohol and sugar and fatty junk foods, youll be pleased to notice fewer calories going in, which should have a beneficial knock-on effect on your weight.
- Regular exercise will help you to lose weight and can also reduce the severity of symptoms.
- Sexual abstinence and withdrawing without orgasm can apparently contribute to BPH and should be avoided now thats cheered you up!
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Prostate Problems Caused By Drinking Water
If you drink a lot of water, you might very well be creating prostate problems for yourself.
But, before we go further, let me just say I DO drink a lot of water each day myself. In fact, I drink over half my body weight in ounces and, that is something anyone with prostate problems or who wants to avoid prostate problems should do in my humble opinion.
But, at the same time, it can be dangerous.
Make your prostate GROW.
And even turn you into a girl!
How?
Well, it is not that water is bad.
Frankly, it is essential for your prostate health.
It is that the plastic bottles you get water in or storing that water in that is the main villain.
Turns out, plastic has estrogenic compounds in it.
What does that mean?
It means, you are ingesting lots and lots of estrogen which can give you girl-like features , cause fat gain and, even worse for guys like us, make our prostates blow up in size like a balloon.
The solution?
Personally, I am going to get a water filter.
I used to lug around these 5 gallons of water in plastic containers but am getting an under-the-counter water filter instead, and use glass jars to drink out of.
You may want to do the same.
At least, if you do not want a sex change.
Just something to consider about your prostate problems if you like to drink bottle water.
Vegetables And The Enlarged Prostate
There is some evidence to support the hypothesis that a diet poor in vegetables and pulses may have an unfavourable effect.
An American study has shown that men who regularly consume a high intake of vegetables have a reduced risk of BPH. Another study showed that eating four or more servings of vegetables daily reduced the risk of developing an enlarged prostate gland by 32%, and eating more fatty foods increased the risk.
This must be an encouragement to eat all the green, leafy vegetables, sweetcorn, kiwi fruit, grapes and yellow and orange-coloured vegetables such as peppers, to get the nutrients present.
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Foods High In Vitamin D
So, what vitamin D foods that shrink the prostate gland do we recommend?
Heres a list you can consider for your next visit to the grocery store:
- Salmon: 3 ounces provide your body with 647 IU of vitamin D, which is a lot. It also has omega 3 fatty acids that aid in the absorption of vitamin D. Other types of fish are excellent, too, including cod, tuna, and halibut.
- Soymilk: Regular milk has vitamin D when fortified, and soymilk is an alternative for vegetarians. It has up to 119 IU of vitamin D for each cup.
- Eggs: If you do not take out the yolk, you get a total of 118 IU of vitamin D for each cup of boiled eggs.
- Foods fortified with vitamin D: Other foods such as breakfast cereals and dairy are fortified with vitamin D. You can find fortified foods by looking at the labels.
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What Do Your Symptoms Mean Should You Worry
What else can cause unexplained weight loss? These drugs are used to control prostate gland enlargement and hair loss. But some experts follow the rule of thumb that an unintentional weight loss of more than five percent of your body weight in a period of six months to a year calls for a medical evaluation. Help Us Eliminate Cancer Every dollar counts.
This treatment has improved with newer technologies, so there are fewer side effects and complications than in the past. Treatments aim to reduce or stop the swelling and make you more comfortable. It kills cancer cells in the bones and helps some men to live longer. This might be shooting, stabbing, burning, tingling or numbness. You might be given radiotherapy to slow down the growth of the cancer. For more information, visit our Privacy Policy. This Prostate Cancer UK booklet is for men with advanced prostate cancer, who have symptoms such as bone pain.
Both of these situations will likely result in urinary issues and problems with bladder function. The changes tell prostahe cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. After these have been addressed, patients can focus more on caloric intake. When this happens, these lymph nodes can no longer drain fluid and function normally.
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Can Losing Weight Shrink An Enlarged Prostate
A study published in the Journal of Urology found that overweight men, especially men with a high amount of abdominal fat, have an increased risk of BPH. If you are looking to shrink the prostate, losing weight can help you reduce your prostate size and help relieve annoying and frustrating urinary symptoms.
Maintain A Healthy Weight
Being overweight is a significant risk factor for aggressive and advanced prostate cancer. It is estimated that about 20% of all cancers are related to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
Physical activity helps to maintain a healthy body weight, which is very important because excess body weight increases estrogen and inflammation, which contribute to prostate diseases.
Research also shows a correlation between increases in body weight and an increase in prostate size.
A study published in the Journal of Obesity and Weight Loss Therapy found that patients who experienced weight loss also underwent decreased prostate volume. It is believed that the evidence indicates that BMI and prostate volume are related.
So based on this study, it is thought that obesity plays a role in prostatic hyperplasia.
As we age, it becomes harder to find the motivation to exercise, and so we gradually put on the pounds. But, it is never too late to start exercising.
How to Start Exercising: A Beginners Guide to Working Out.
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Exercise And Lose Weight
Exercising and losing weight are some of the best things you can do to promote prostate health. Many studies show that moderate or vigorous exercise reduces risk of BPH and urinary tract symptoms and helps with prostatitis as well. Exercise also benefits your cardiovascular health and can help prevent other health and sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction.
If you are overweight, losing weight is one of the most important natural changes you can make in improving your prostate health, whether your concerns are cancer, BPH or prostatitis. A study published in the Journal of Urology found that overweight men, especially men with a high amount of abdominal fat, have an increased risk of BPH. If you are looking to shrink the prostate, losing weight can help you reduce your prostate size and help relieve annoying and frustrating urinary symptoms. On top of that, weight loss can reduce your risk for prostate cancer and help relieve prostatitis, too.
The Link Between Prostate Cancer And Your Weight
Experts arenât sure why, but there seems to be a link between your weight and prostate cancer.
Research suggests that being obese may lower your risk of getting slow-growing cancer. But it increases your risk of getting a more aggressive, fatal cancer.
If youâre obese or gained a lot of weight over time, your risk of dying from prostate cancer may be higher. You may also be more likely to have prostate cancer come back once youâve had it.
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It Has Just Turned My Life Around
âIâve lost 20 pounds or so in the last six months, and I feel great,â he said. âIt has just turned my life around.â
Since he joined the study, Asay has made the 180-mile, round-trip commute between his home and Seattle more than 10 times to meet with exercise physiologist Matthew Van Doren and nutritionist Sarah Altvater in the Fred Hutch Prevention Center, a unique facility that houses a state-of-the-art exercise research center and a human nutrition laboratory that supports a variety of feeding studies.
From Van Doren, Asay has learned about the importance of stretching, cardiovascular and resistance exercise, and consistently getting his heart rate into a fat-burning zone, among other things. From Altvater, he has learned how to keep a food journal to track every calorie and gram of fat that passes his lips, and how to make healthy food choices, like eating more vegetables and staying away from sugary drinks and pastries. âI have skim milk in my coffee now and I try and stay away from cheese, even though I still love it,â said the retired dairy farmer.
Those choices have since become second nature, Asay said in a phone interview the day after Halloween.
âBefore I joined the study, Iâd go to Costco, Iâd go by the bakery and the first thing Iâd have would be a sweet roll. Last night, my wife had candy out for the trick-or-treaters and that doesnât even interest me anymore.
And heâs not done.
How The Prostate Changes As You Age
Because the prostate gland tends to grow larger with age, it may squeeze the urethra and cause problems in passing urine. Sometimes men in their 30s and 40s may begin to have these urinary symptoms and need medical attention. For others, symptoms aren’t noticed until much later in life. An infection or a tumor can also make the prostate larger. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the urinary symptoms listed below.
Tell your doctor if you have these urinary symptoms:
- Are passing urine more during the day
- Have an urgent need to pass urine
- Have less urine flow
- Feel burning when you pass urine
- Need to get up many times during the night to pass urine
Growing older raises your risk of prostate problems. The three most common prostate problems are inflammation , enlarged prostate , and prostate cancer.
One change does not lead to another. For example, having prostatitis or an enlarged prostate does not increase your risk of prostate cancer. It is also possible for you to have more than one condition at the same time.
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