What Steps Can You Take To Improve Prostate Health?

Written by Micky Romney, D.O., D.C.

If you are a man, you should be concerned about your prostate health regardless of your age (1). It is true that most conditions that affect your prostate gland only develop in men of advanced age. However, if you take care of your prostate gland now you may be able to avoid serious prostate issues as you age. Read our article to learn more about the prostate gland and what you can do to improve your prostate health.

What Is The Prostate Gland?

The prostate gland is an organ that is only present in males. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland that is situated between the bladder and the penis, in front of the rectum. The urethra runs through the center of the prostate from the bladder to the penis allowing urine to leave the body.

The prostate gland serves several key purposes in the reproductive health of males. This gland secretes a specific type of fluid that both nourishes and protects sperm cells. During ejaculation, the prostate gland secretes this fluid into the urethra to add motility and a fluid base for the sperm cells to leave the body (2). Together the sperm and fluids from the urethra form semen.

Summary:

The prostate gland is a small, walnut-sized gland only found in males. This organ is found between the bladder and penis in front of the rectum. The male urethra runs through this organ to allow urine to be excreted from the body. This organ performs several important functions during the reproductive process. The prostate produces a fluid that nourishes and protects sperm cells while providing a fluid base that allows sperm cells to leave the body.

Conditions That Affect Your Prostate Health

• Prostatitis - This is a condition that causes the prostate gland to become swollen, tender and inflamed. There are four different types of prostatitis which are characterized by their own set of symptoms. Acute bacterial prostatitis occurs when bacteria from your urethra, bladder or kidneys enter the prostate. Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a prostate infection similar to acute bacterial prostatitis, however, the symptoms continue for months after the original infection. The most common type of prostatitis is known as Chronic Prostatitis or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. This type of prostatitis is often caused by nerve damage, injury or exposure to chemicals in your urine. Finally, another common prostate infection is known as Asymptomatic Prostatitis. This condition occurs when the prostate is inflamed but you have no other symptoms of this condition.
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - This condition affects most men who are over the age of fifty. It occurs when the prostate begins to increase in size until it begins to squeeze the urethra. As a result, you will begin to notice that the stream of your urine is weaker, you wake up more frequently during the night to go to the bathroom, and you may experience a wide variety of other urinary problems (3). Although this condition is not life threatening, it could have a significant impact on the quality of your life. Although doctors are not sure what causes this uncomfortable condition, the consensus is that it is most probably caused by hormonal shifts that occur as you age. Some of the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate include dribbling urine after you are done using the bathroom, having difficulty starting to urinate and a weak stream of urine that frequently stops and starts.
• Prostate Cancer - Prostate cancer is one of the most common type of cancer experienced men. Unfortunately, there are often no symptoms associated with this type of cancer in the early stages. However, as your condition deteriorates you may begin to notice some additional symptoms. These symptoms include trouble starting and maintaining a steady stream of urine, dribbling of urine, excessive urination at night, frequent urination, urge to urinate and leaking urine, urinary retention or weak urinary stream (4). Additionally, you may suffer from severe pain in your bones and joints.

Summary:

There are three main types of disorders that affect the prostate gland. The first prostate condition is known as Prostatitis. There are four different types of prostatitis these are Acute Bacterial Prostatitis, Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis, Chronic Prostatitis and Asymptomatic Prostatitis. Each of these types of prostatitis will typically display different symptoms and are caused by a variety of different factors. Another condition that commonly affects the prostate gland is enlarged. A large percentage of men will develop an enlarged prostate as they age. Although the experts are not entirely sure why this happens they believe that it is related to hormonal changes that occur as a result of age. Finally, another condition that commonly affects the prostate gland is prostate cancer. Although this cancer often does not present any symptoms during its early stages, individuals who suffer from prostate cancer will often experience disruptions in their urinary health as well as pain in the bones and joints.

Tips For Improving Prostate Health

Take A Prostate Supplement

One of the easiest things you can do to improve the condition of this vital organ is to take a prostate supplement. These products have been designed to ease the flow of urine through your reproductive system while preventing any inflammation from forming in the prostate. When you are searching for the best prostate supplements you should ensure that your chosen product contains the following three ingredients. They are Pygeum, Beta-Sitosterol and Lycopene. Pygeum is an ingredient that is derived from the root of the red stinkwood tree (5). This ingredient is incredibly effective at controlling the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Additionally, this ingredient will significantly improve the consistency of your urinary system. Beta-sitosterol is another excellent ingredient that that improves your urine flow and reduces the swelling present in your prostate gland. Finally, lycopene is a crucial nutrient for individuals who suffer from prostate issues because it acts as a powerful antioxidant. There is a significant amount of evidence that seems to indicate that lycopenes are incredibly beneficial for individuals who suffer from prostate cancer.

Summary:

The easiest thing you can do to improve your prostate health is to include a prostate supplement into your health care regimen. Some of the ingredients that are included in the best prostate supplements are pygeum, beta-sitosterol and lycopene. Pygeum is an ingredient that is incredibly good for individuals who struggle with the flow of their urine. Additionally, this ingredient helps to reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Beta-sitosterol is an excellent ingredient for individuals who suffer from issues with their prostate gland because it improves the flow of urine as well as the output of the urinary stream. Finally, lycopene is a useful ingredient in this kind of supplement because it acts as an antioxidant that is incredibly effective against prostate cancer.

Increase Your Intake Of Fruits And Vegetables

Another simple step you can take to improve your prostate health is to drastically increase your consumption of fresh produce. Not only will this be beneficial for the health of your prostate but also for your general health. Fruits and vegetables are an excellent source for key nutrients like antioxidants, fiber, polyphenols, vitamins and minerals. This is excellent for your prostate gland because all of these nutrients help to reduce inflammation in your body. Inflammation could cause the symptoms of enlarged prostate to become significantly worse. Therefore, it is crucial to take all of the necessary steps to reduce inflammation in the body (6). Additionally, the antioxidants that are present in fresh fruit and vegetables are incredibly effective at reducing your risk of developing prostate cancer. When you consume antioxidants they enter your bloodstream and target and reduce the number of precancerous cells that are present in your body.

Summary:

Eating a diet that is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables could drastically improve the health of your prostate gland. Additionally, it will improve your general health and help you feel your best. Fruits and vegetables contain a variety of nutrients that reduce inflammation in your body. This is great because inflammation may cause the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland to become much worse. Additionally, eating large amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables could reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer. This is because they contain antioxidants that eliminate precancerous cells from your body.

Have Your Zinc And Magnesium Levels Checked

When you go for your annual check-up with your general health care provider make sure to ask them to have your zinc and magnesium levels tested (7). These minerals are essential for your prostate health. Not only are they crucial for the production of testosterone but they also help your body to excrete xenoestrogen. Your prostate gland uses testosterone to produce the fluids that are necessary for ejaculation. To get more zinc and magnesium into your diet make sure that you are eating a large handful of pumpkin seeds every day. These seeds are one of the richest sources of both of these minerals. It is also a great idea to drink a green smoothie every day. Make your favorite fruit-based smoothie and add two cups of raw spinach for a magnesium and zinc boost. Alternatively, you could also add in a few scoops of spirulina or a balanced green powder. You should also ensure that you are eating organic meats to boost your zinc and magnesium intake.

Summary:

Make sure that you get your general health care provider to order tests for your zinc and magnesium levels at your next check-up. These minerals are key in the production of testosterone and the detoxification of xenoestrogen. Additionally, these minerals are used for the production of seminal fluid in the body. Include more pumpkin seeds, fresh greens, organic meats, and spirulina into your diet to boost your zinc and magnesium levels.

Eat More Tomatoes

Tomatoes, watermelons, peppers, and other fruits with a distinctive red color are all rich in an antioxidant called lycopene. There is a significant amount of evidence available that seems to indicate that consuming a large amount of lycopene is linked to a significant reduction in your risk for developing prostate cancer later on in your life (8). Although the lycopene present in all of these vibrant vegetables is great for your prostate health there is some evidence available that seems to indicate some are better than others. A recent research study seems to indicate that your body will be more efficient at absorbing lycopene from cooked tomatoes. Additionally, tomatoes that are an intense red contain a considerably higher percentage of lycopene as opposed to the pale tomatoes you often find in the grocery store.

Summary:

Fruits and vegetables that have a vibrant red color are rich in an antioxidant called lycopene. The consumption of this antioxidant has been linked to lowered risks of developing prostate cancer. Certain research studies seem to indicate that the body is more effective at absorbing lycopene from cooked tomatoes as opposed to raw tomatoes. Additionally, you should always choose the brightest red tomatoes as opposed to pale tomatoes to ensure that you are getting the maximum amount of lycopene.

Have Another Cup Of Coffee

You may have heard of all of the surprising benefits associated with drinking coffee. However, did you know that indulging in four to five cups of coffee on a daily could significantly decrease your risk of developing prostate cancer? For the optimum results, the experts recommend that you boil the coffee grounds along with your water before filtering out the ground coffee. The research seems to indicate that men who drink coffee that is prepared this way have an even lower risk of developing prostate cancer compared to men who drink coffee that is prepared differently. However, you should always take note of how much caffeine you are consuming as drinking too much could lead to anxiety and irregular heartbeats.

Summary:

Drinking four or five cups of coffee every day could significantly decrease your risk of developing prostate cancer. Boil your coffee grounds with your water before filtering to ensure the maximum benefits. However, you should try not to drink too much coffee on a daily basis as it could cause you to experience irregular heartbeats and anxiety.

Brought to you by our expert team at Authority Health.