At some point in your life, you will want to know about foods to boost your prostate health. Two conditions of the prostate are common. Both may be helped or perhaps completely avoided by foods to promote your prostate health.
Yale Medical School reports that approximately 50% of 51 to 60-year-old men will develop Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). That number increases with age. 70% of 61 to 69-year-old men and 80% of men aged 80 or above will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that 13% of men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. Two to three percent of men will die from prostate cancer. The risk increases with age. Supplements such as Prostate 911 can be beneficial, but anything a man can do to decrease those odds should be considered, including foods to boost your prostate.
What Is the Prostate?
The prostate gland is small but smooth, usually the size of a walnut. It sits below the bladder in men. The urethra runs through and connects with the prostate gland.
The prostate is responsible for making the liquid part of the ejaculate. During orgasm, the prostate mixes with sperm stored in the seminal vesicles (atop the prostate) and expels through the penis.
When the prostate becomes enlarged, it negatively affects urination.
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
BPH is an overgrowth of normal prostate tissue. This excessive tissue can compress the urethra centrally, causing difficulty in starting urination and maintaining a steady stream of urine.
The enlarged prostate can also press upwards against the bladder, making it feel as if you have to urinate frequently. BPH is the most significant cause of multiple trips to the bathroom for men at night.
Prostate Cancer
Cancer of the prostate occurs when the usual genetic material in prostate cells undergoes a malignant change. As these malignant cells multiply, they become a mass.
Pieces of the tumor can break away and travel to other body organs and establish there. Fortunately, due to modern medical advances, prostate cancer is not as deadly as it once was.
Foods For Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
Reports indicate that a diet containing specific minerals and vitamins can minimize or prevent BPH. Another risk factor is being overweight. Therefore, choosing a nutritious diet that helps with weight reduction and supplies the BPH inhibitors is a win-win.
- Sesame, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and adzuki seeds contain a lot of absorbable zinc. An Indian Journal of Urology published a study that found men with BPH or prostate cancer had zinc deficiencies, up to 75% less than healthy men.
- Bell Peppers – Besides being delicious, sweet bell peppers have 200% of the recommended RDA intake of vitamin C (Ascorbic acid). Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant that slows hypertrophy.
- Avocados – This food is rich in beta-sitosterol, a phytohormone supplement said to increase urinary flow and decrease hesitancy in men with BPH. Safe amounts of Beta-sitosterol in supplement form is indeterminable at this time; however, dietary avocados will certainly not exceed a dangerous amount.
- Tomatoes – The carotenoid lycopene gives the tomato its bright red color. It also slows prostatic hypertrophy. In one study, lycopene demonstrated a reduction in prostatic hypertrophy. It also has a role in prostate cancer.
- Onion and Garlic – Onion and its variations, such as scallions and garlic, have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Regular ingestion boosts the immune system and fights infection.
Foods for Prostate Cancer
- Tofu – Soy contains soybean isoflavones. In an older study, these compounds decreased BPH growth; a more recent study, however, found soy inhibited malignant cell reproduction in prostate cancer. Yet another study found that the isoflavones in soy improved lower urinary symptoms improving stream.
- Tomatoes – As previously mentioned, lycopene in tomatoes has a demonstrated effect on the prostate gland.
- Grapes – The phytochemical resveratrol is the cancer-fighting compound in grapes and other blue or purple fruits. Resveratrol has been popular in preventing cardiovascular disease, with a glass of red wine recommended. In addition, it reduces inflammation and cancer risk, fighting established cancer.
- Apples – The saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” has a basis! Loaded with vitamins A and vitamin C, apples also contain quercetin. This compound is another potent phytochemical flavonoid that has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties and can slow cancer progression.
- Salmon and Lean Meats – The omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish provide the building blocks for cell membranes. In addition, the low-fat proteins in fish and lean cuts of meat provide essential proteins while keeping weight in check after a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Avoid processed meats, as the chemicals used to process them can contribute to cancer formation, specifically nitrates and nitrites.
Honorable Mentions
Saw Palmetto is a short scrub palm tree. The berries it produces have been used for centuries to promote prostate health and as a food source for indigenous people.
Several studies have suggested that saw palmetto is as effective as tamsulosin (Flomax), a prescription drug for BPH. Nature has provided you with several foods to boost your prostate health.
One large study biopsied the prostates of men post-mortem who did not have a prostate cancer diagnosis at the time of death.
Between 80% to 90% of all men had malignant cells in the prostate. This large group had undiagnosed prostate cancer that did not kill them; however, the malignancy certainly caused symptoms when the men were alive.
The Bottom Line
Knowing the number of men at risk, which is almost all men, wouldn’t it be prudent to minimize the risks however possible?
Diet, weight control, and general good health can reduce and improve the chances and the course of prostate health. Knowing the foods that boost prostate health is an essential first step.
For best results, consider the benefits of the foods mentioned above and find ways to add them to your diet to fit your lifestyle. If your taste buds reject some food choices, mainly fruits and vegetables, impressive smoothie options can mask the flavor behind other, more pleasing flavors.
