What Foods Are Good For Shrinking The Prostate
When it comes to all avenues of health, diet has a significant impact. The same can be said about prostate health. Some foods have been found to contain estrogenic chemicals.
These chemicals can further increase estrogen production and lead to increased production of DHT . DHT is an active form of testosterone, and the increased production of it can irritate the prostate and an increased risk of prostate problems
That being said, research shows that certain food can help to combat prostate inflammation and help to improve urinary symptoms. Foods to add to a prostate friendly diet include:
When To See A Doctor
If you don’t see a reduction in symptoms or if your symptoms worsen, you may need to undergo a different treatment plan.
Prescription Medications
The first higher-level treatment is to begin taking prescription drugs for an enlarged prostate. One class of medication is an alpha blocker. These medications, such as Flomax, Rapaflo, and Cardura, work by relaxing the affected muscles around the prostate to encourage urine flow.
Another type of medication is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. Examples of these medications include Proscar and Avodart, which are long-term medications that help to block the production of dihydrotestosterone and shrink the size of the prostate.
Surgery and Minimally Invasive Procedures
For moderate to severe BPH, you may need a medical procedure to relieve your symptoms. There are a variety of procedures, including laser therapy, microwave heat, or prostate tissue compression. Partial prostate removal and full removal are more invasive but may be necessary for extremely large prostate glands.
Tips For A Healthy Prostate
More than 190,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to keep your prostate healthy as you ageand stay ahead of the game. Heres what Christopher Saigal, MD, an assistant professor of urology at UCLAs Jonsson Cancer Center, says to do:
1. Keep a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
2. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, watermelons, pink grapefruits, guava and papaya contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale also are good choices.
3. Let your doctor know if you have a family history of prostate cancer. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a mans risk of developing this disease.
4. Include more soy in your diet from sources such as tofu, soy nuts or soy flour or powders.
5. Dont smoke.
6. Eat more selenium-rich foods such as wheat germ, tuna, herring and other seafood and shellfish, beef liver, kidney, eggs, sunflower and sesame seeds, cashews, mushrooms, garlic and onions. Selenium reduces risk of prostate cancer.
7. Get a PSA blood test and digital rectal exam annually, beginning at age 50. Men at high risk, such as African American men or men with a strong family history of prostate cancer should begin testing at age 45.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more,
Recommended Reading: What Is The Definition Of Prostate
Maintain A Balanced Diet
Theyre probably not your favorite part of any meal, but green, leafyvegetables are a good first step toward a healthy prostate. Thesevegetables are full of important vitamins and antioxidants that keep you and specifically, your prostate healthy.
So look for somehealthy recipesthat have lettuce, spinach, kale and broccoli to make your prostate-healthydinner delicious.
While youre filling your plate with these leafy greens, avoid charredmeats. There is believed to be a link between PhIP, a chemical compoundreleased when meat is charred, and an increased risk of cancer.
How To Add More Tomatoes To Your Diet
Incorporating more tomato-based recipes into your diet is simple.
There are many nutritious tomato dishes to try. For example, adding some sun-dried or fresh tomatoes to salads, eating your eggs with sliced tomatoes or salsa, and enjoying tomato-based soups are excellent ways to boost your lycopene intake.
In the summer months, you can buy fresh, local tomatoes to add to sandwiches and chop into salads.
Drinking plain tomato juice each morning is another good option. Just make sure to pick a low sodium variety.
Summary
Also Check: What Is The Definition Of Prostate Gland
How To Add More Pomegranate Juice To Your Diet
You can buy pomegranate juice at most grocery stores. If drinking the juice plain is too intense, consider diluting it with plain water or adding some sparkling water.
You can also add pomegranate seeds to homemade salad dressing to sweeten up your favorite salad.
Summary
Pomegranates are high in antioxidants. Animal and test-tube studies have shown that pomegranate juice could inhibit the production of some prostate cancer cells.
How To Add More Fish To Your Diet
Adding more omega-3s to your diet can be as easy as cracking open a can of sardines or tuna. Not everyone is so enthusiastic about fish, though. Plus, it can also be expensive.
If you havent enjoyed fish in the past, try a different type. Each one has a unique flavor. The flavor is also milder if the fish is fresh, so you may enjoy fish more if you buy it from a fish counter and make it that day.
Cod, flounder, and trout have milder flavors. Try topping your fish with a lemon sauce or adding it to another prostate-friendly food. For example, you could try baked cod in a tomato sauce.
To stretch your dollar, you can also add fish to dishes like pasta, soup, salad, or sandwiches. That way you wont need as much fish to make a complete meal.
You can also ask your healthcare provider about taking omega-3 supplements.
Summary
Fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel, contain healthful omega-3 fatty acids. These compounds may help keep the prostate healthy, though more studies are needed.
Don’t Miss: Do Female Have Prostate
The Power Of Consistency
Signing up for 1MD Nutrition’s Subscription Box means you can spend less time worrying and more time staying motivated and focused on your health routine.
We are your biggest health advocates, so let us help you stay on track by automatically sending your joint, heart, immunity, and digestive health support supplements all in one box, on time… and start enjoying a happier, healthier life today.
Put your health first with 1MD Nutrition Subscription Box
Nutrition And Prostate Cancer
Differences in diet and lifestyle may account for the variability of prostate cancer rates in different countries. Good nutrition may reduce the incidence of prostate cancer and help reduce the risk of prostate cancer progression. There are many lifestyle studies currently being conducted to further understand how diet and prostate cancer are related.
We do know that improved nutrition reduces risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity, and usually improves overall quality of life. It’s estimated that a third of cancer deaths in the United States can be attributed to diet in adults, including diet’s effect on obesity. Additionally, a healthy diet helps to increase energy levels, facilitate recovery and enhance the immune system.
Researchers conducted an 11-day study where men followed the Pritikin program. The Pritikin program includes a diet that is high in vegetables, fruits and whole grains and very low in fat. This diet is used in combination with 60 minutes of daily exercise. Serum IGF-I decreased by 20 percent after following the program for 11 days. Higher IGF-I values previously have been associated with higher risk for various cancers, including prostate cancer. This reduction in IGF-I may be related to the lower serum insulin levels observed with a healthy, low-fat, plant-based diet and regular exercise.
Recommended Reading: Bph Medications With Least Side Effects
How Can I Make My Prostate Healthy
5 Ways to Stay on Top of Prostate Health Eat a fresh, whole-foods diet. Fruits and vegetables are full of phytonutrients and antioxidants that help your cells stay healthy and replenished. Cut down or cut out alcohol and processed foods. Get more exercise. Restore your hormones. Get a prostate exam each year.
Cut Down Or Cut Out Alcohol And Processed Foods
Both alcohol and processed foods can cause unhealthy inflammation in your body. Youll want to eliminate processed foods, which are also low in nutrients and high in chemicals that could compromise your health.
When you shift your focus around eating to nutrition instead of taste alone, you may find that youre so full of pomegranates and cucumbers and other good foods that you dont have room for nutrition-poor processed foods, alcohol, and other indulgences.
Recommended Reading: Viagra Bph
The Best Foods For Prostate Health
The prostate gland is an integral part of the male reproductive system. About the size of a walnut, it continues to change and grow during a mans lifetime. Maintaining prostate health should be of maximum importance to all men if they want to lead a long and healthy life.
Lets look at three medical issues that can arise as a result of the prostate gland, and some recommendations for the best foods for prostate health.
Managing And Balancing Hormone Levels Is One Of The Best Ways To Restore Prostate Health
Because hormone production changes as you age, it is important to maintain a healthy balance in an effort to support prostate health and, therefore, help ward off conditions such as an enlarged prostate. One hormone level that declines with age is testosterone, and can occur when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase transforms testosterone into dihydrotestosterone .
The result is a drop in T levels and an imbalance in the ratio of T to estrogen, leading to an enlarged prostate. Fortunately, you can help restore balance to your hormone levels by exercising regularly, dropping excess pounds, maintaining a healthy body weight, and using natural supplements that promote prostate health and healthful testosterone levels. Using a natural supplement for testosterone health can also help.
You May Like: How Effective Is Chemotherapy For Prostate Cancer
Reducing Stress Can Also Reduce Your Prostate Size
The body deals with stress by raising levels of certain hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Unfortunately, when stress is chronic, cortisol levels remain high, which in turn elevates inflammation. Stress also can worsen urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH, such as urinary urgency, painful urination, dribbling, and urinary frequency.
You can take back control of your life and stress levels by incorporating stress-reduction practices into your life. Yoga, deep breathing, tai chi, meditation, guided visualization, and exercise all can be effective at alleviating stress.
Getting eight hours of sleep every night can bring down stress levels, as can following a healthful diet. If you find the stress in your life is more than you can handle alone, you might consult a therapist or try group therapy.
If you are living with an aging and unhealthy prostate, consider incorporating the 8 steps to better prostate health into your lifestyle and get back to enjoying life!
Editors note: Did you know that when you take your body from acid to alkaline you can boost your energy, lose weight, soothe digestion, avoid illness and achieve wellness? Click here to discover The Alkaline Secret to Ultimate Vitality and revive your life today!
«SPONSORED»
Common Prostate Health Problems
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer has become a major public health problem worldwide. This form of cancer is when malignant, cancer cells form in the tissues of the prostate. Typically there are no symptoms at all, and prostate cancer is detected on surveillance DRE and PSA tests. If a man has any symptoms, its typically a sign of a very advanced disease but this is very uncommon this day and age.
The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age. Other risk factors include family history and race. The study of age-specific incidence curves reveals that prostate cancer risk begins to rise sharply after age 55 and peaks at age 7074, declining slightly thereafter. Autopsy studies even show that prostate cancer has a long induction period and many men begin to have lesions in their 20s and 30s. The risk of prostate cancer is approximately 60 percent higher in African-Americans than in Caucasians, with the mortality rate in African-Americans being double that of caucasians. And studies conducted as far back as the 1950s determined that having a brother or father with prostate cancer increases the risk for an individual by approximately two- to threefold, on average.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Prostatitis
Recommended Reading: How To Treat Prostate Cancer That Has Spread To Bones
Choose The Mediterranean Diet
A healthy diet for everyone, the Mediterranean diet is especially beneficial for prostate health.
Fresh vegetables, fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids, olive oil, and fresh fruits, along with whole grains are all heart healthy and prostate healthy. Nuts and avocados are better than carbs and fatty foods, therefore reduce the amount of red meat and processed foods.
One tablespoon of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or Italian dressings reduce insulin levels and inflammations.
Natural Remedies For An Enlarged Prostate
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a common problem that men experience as they age.
Men over 50 have a 50 percent chance of having BPH, while men over 80 have a 90 percent chance of developing the condition.
It occurs when the prostate enlarges to twice or even three times its size, pressing against the urethra and resulting in restricted/ obstructed urine flow.
As a consequence of this obstructed flow, lower urinary tract symptoms manifest.
Read Also: Tamsulosin Ejaculation Problems
Is There A Prostate Cancer Diet
WebMD expert and urologist Sheldon Marks, MD, shares his thought on how men can help prevent prostate cancer through nutrition.
When you’re being treated for cancer, it’s more important than ever to eat right and get adequate nutrition — but it can also be more difficult than ever to adhere to a balanced cancer diet. Your body is working overtime to fight the cancer, while it’s also doing extra duty to repair healthy cells that may have been damaged as a side effect of treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. At the same time, many cancer treatments — especially chemotherapy — come with side effects that drain your strength and sap your appetite. So how can you make sure you’re getting all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals you need to keep a balanced cancer diet?
Tips For Prostate Health
It makes sense that a man’s diet and exercise habits have an impact on his prostate health. While there are no proven miracle foods to reduce prostate cancer risk, we do know a focus on healthy living supports your whole body and combats disease. Start by making small, consistent changes in your diet and activity level with the following tips:
1. Make healthy food a priority.
- Reach for whole grains for bread, pasta and cereals instead of refined
- Our bodies need healthy fats. Choose avocados, olive oil and nuts over trans fats commonly found in packaged foods
- Limit red and processed meats. Instead, choose lean proteins like fish and chicken
- Aim for five servings per day of brightly colored vegetables and fruits
- Drink lots of water throughout the day to stay hydrated, which is especially important for prostate health. Other healthy options include caffeine-free teas with antioxidants
2. Get active, stay active.
3. Curb unhealthy habits.
Read Also: Finding Prostate Externally
Rye Grass Pollen Extract
The rye grass pollen extract is an emerging natural treatment for BPH.
It is derived from three types of pollen is used for prostate diseases in Western Europe and East Asia. Two studies explored the effects of rye grass pollen extract.
They found that the grass pollen improved symptoms of prostate enlargement. These include the frequency of night-time urination and the amount of urine left in the bladder.
Another meta-analysis of 444 men showed that rye grass pollen extracts significantly improved self-rated urinary symptoms in men with enlarged prostates.
One study also showed that rye grass pollen extract decreased the size of the prostate when seen in an ultrasound. Multiple clinical studies support its effectiveness in the treatment of an enlarged prostate .
One 2017 meta-analysis consisting of 10 clinical studies actually revealed an 83% positive response rate from patients, with no side effects reported.
Further studies have also emphasized the healing properties of ryegrass, stating that flower pollen extract could significantly improve patients quality of life if suffering from prostatitis.
Bigger But Not Better
Prostatic enlargement is pretty much inevitable. The urinary symptoms associated with it are treated with pills called alpha-blockers, which essentially enlarge the urethral channel by relaxing the muscle fibers within it. You can start with herbals like that of the woody shrub saw palmetto, pumpkin seeds , stinging nettle extract, pygeum, rye grass or beta-sitosterol extract and cruciferous vegetables but in randomized trials herbals take a distant second place to alpha blockers. Other drugs called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors actually shrink the gland by 1/3 of its size and can also help urination. If these pills don’t keep you peeing straight and strong, there are also various indescribable procedures that can remove the excess prostatic tissue. And yes, some of them involve lasers, which you just gotta love.The prostate can also become inflamed, termed prostatitis, which occurs in about 10% of men at least once during their lives. This diagnosis is not subtle as most men with prostatitis pee firewater several times an hour. Ways to avoid this include good hydration, regular, timed voiding and treating BPH when it occurs.
Also Check: How To Treat Prostate Cancer That Has Spread To Bones