Tips for prostate health

June 9-16 2008 is Men’s Health Week, and you may never think about your prostate until it forces itself on your attention by frequent trips to the loo. Being a great believer in prevention, pass on these tips to help yourself, and others. There are 7 in total, one for every day of Men’s Health Week.

The condition known as BPH (Benign prostatic hyperplasia) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, common in men in the Western world aged 50 and over. While the actual cause is not completely understood, experts believe it is closely linked to hormone levels and they of course are influenced by diet and lifestyle. To reduce the risk of BPH, try these:

1 Eat a diet low in saturated and trans-fats, focusing instead on the much healthier monounsaturated and omega-3 fats

2 Japanese women suffer few menopause symptoms, believed to be due to their diet being high in soy products. Now it seems that Asian men have a lower risk of BPH which some researchers believe is related to their high intake of soy foods – so add in some soy milk or yoghurt to your diet

3 Avoid symptom triggers such as caffeine and alcohol, because they increase your need to urinate and can also irritate the bladder.

4 The pressure from constipation may make the symptoms of BPH worse so avoid constipation by increasing the amount of fibre in your diet.

5 Have regular health and prostate check-ups from your late forties onwards

6 Try saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) or male supplements for prostate which contain it. Often recommended for men who have prostate problems, saw palmetto does not shrink the size of the prostate, but it often helps promote healthy function and decreases symptoms. The best form to use is an extract standardized to 85-95% total fatty acids. Use 160 mg twice daily

7 Make herbs and nutrients such as green tea extract, stinging nettle root, ginger, rosemary, zinc, lycopene, and selenium part of your regular diet as they have all have been shown to help maintain and promote normal prostate health

Article by AnnA