Men’s health, Prostrex

Men’s health matters: diet and supplement tips for good prostate health

Sadly, it’s a common problem; too many men aren’t proactive in taking care of their health, not least when it comes to their prostates. A compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland that’s part of the male reproductive system, its specific role is to secrete a milky white fluid into semen, which seems like a simple enough job, but of course, the prostate gland is notoriously associated with poor male health, especially cancer (indeed, in developed countries it’s estimated that as much as three percent of elderly men die from prostate cancer every year).

Fair dos then, it’s imperative that men look after their bodies – especially their prostates (checking in the region regularly for any abnormalities is essential) – and this is often recommended in the form of good, regular exercise. Additionally, though, diet comes into play here. For instance, did you know that consuming a number of different herbs can aid male-specific health; in particular, prostate health, vitality and sex drive? The following are all good examples then of prostate health foods:

 

  • Pine Bark – relied on as a natural therapy by civilisations from different eras and it’s no surprise too, as recently it’s been discovered pine bark not only supports prostate health1, but more specifically, may promote ‘desirable sexual response’ and accentuate both quantity and quality of sperm2

 

  • Pumpkin seed – particularly rich in prostate health-supporting minerals like iron, potassium and zinc, pumpkin seeds (thanks too to their antioxidant qualities) are, thus, great for the prostate; indeed, a study suggests that pumpkin seed extract may help urine to flow normally among men suffering with enlarged prostates3

 

  • Pygeum bark – to aid normal, painless urination, it’s important to try and return an enlarged prostate to its normal size, something (according to several studies) chemical compounds found in pygeum bark may well be able to help with4

 

  • Saw Palmetto – it’s believed that Native American societies relied on this herb to specifically benefit their urinary and reproductive health, which makes sense because research suggests it could inhibit enzymes in the body from nefariously acting to enlarge the prostate5 and it may contribute to ensuring testosterone levels remain balanced and normal

 

  • Smartweed – a terrific source of antioxidants (in order to protect all parts of the body from free radicals)6; research also suggests that smartweed supports good prostate health and soothes tissues to help decrease their swelling7

 

  • Stinging nettle – for children, stinging nettles are potentially painful plants to be avoided, yet their many nutritional benefits have long been understood to be of significant value, not least for prostate glands and urinary tracts8; indeed, chemicals in nettles can prove useful in discouraging testosterone to transform into the androgen hormone dihydrotestosterone, which contributes to prostate enlargement

 

  • Turmeric – popular with millions of people for its high volume of antioxidants (great for fighting the activity of harmful free radicals in cells); research also suggests turmeric may aid urinary health in those with a history of prostate issues9.

 

Prostate health supplements

So, be in no doubt about it, the prostate gland is like any other part of the male body; it requires consideration, attention and care to maintain its normal functioning and good health. As noted then, whether via consumption of the likes of the above herbs or any prostate-favouring nutritious foods, the most natural way to go about this is through a sustainable, sensible, balanced diet.

However, a bit of help from a reliable, easy-to-access source never goes amiss either and – to that end – you may well find the following naturally-occurring supplements (both available from The Finchley Clinic) are fine ways to get the nutritional value necessary to support and protect your prostate that your everyday diet presently lacks:

Prostrex – a blend of premium herbs (many of those mentioned above) to assist your body in regulating proper prostate balance; thus, helping men of all ages launch and maintain a natural, targeted approach to prostate and urinary tract health.

Saw Palmetto Complex – a synergistic mix of ingredients that aims to support healthy functioning of the prostate and urinary tract; comprising saw palmetto, as well as beta sitosterol, celery seed, l-alanine, l-glycine, lycopene, selenium, zinc and Vitamins A and B6.

 

References:

  1. Neuwirt H., Arias M. C. and Puhr M. ‘Oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPC) exert anti-proliferative and pro­apoptotic effects on prostate cancer cell s’. Prostate. 2008 Nov 1; 68 (15): 1647­ 54. doi: 10.1002/pros.20829.
  2. Ledda A., Belcaro G. and Cesarone M. R. ‘Investigation of a complex plant extract for mild to moderate erectile dysfunction in a randomized, double-­blind, placebo-­controlled, parallel-­arm study’. BJU Int. 2010 Oct; 106 (7): 1030­3. doi: 10.1111/j.1464­410X.2010.09213.x.
  3. Hong H., Kim C. S. and Maeng S. ‘Effects of pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto oil in Korean men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia’. Nutr Res Pract. 2009 Winter; 3 (4): 323-7. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2009.3.4.323. Epub 2009 Dec 31.
  4. Wilt T., Ishani A. et al. ‘Pygeum africanum for benign prostatic hyperplasia’. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002; (1): CD001044. PMID: 11869585.
  5. Pais P. ‘Potency of a novel saw palmetto ethanol extract, SPET-085, for inhibition of 5alpha-reductase II’. Adv Ther. 2010 Aug; 27 (8): 555-63. doi:10.1007/s12325-010-0041-6. Epub 2010 Jul 10.
  6. Yang X., Wang B. C., Zhang X., Yang S. P., Li W., Tang Q. and Singh G. K. ‘Simultaneous determination of nine flavonoids in Polygonum hydropiper L. samples using nanomagnetic powder three-phase hollow fibre-based liquid-phase microextraction combined with ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry’. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2011 Jan 25; 54 (2): 311-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2010.08.026. Epub 2010 Sep 28.
  7. Yang Y., Yu T., Jang H. J., Byeon S. E., Song S. Y., Lee B. H., Rhee M. H., Kim T. W., Lee J., Hong S. and Cho J. Y. ‘In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of Polygonum hydropiper methanol extract’. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Jan 31; 139 (2): 616-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.003. Epub 2011 Dec 13.
  8. Tanagho E. R. and Mcaninch J. E. Smith’s general urology. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008.
  9. Hejazi J., Rastmanesh R., Taleban F. A., Molana S. H. and Ehtejab G. ‘A Pilot Clinical Trial of Radioprotective Effects of Curcumin Supplementation in Patients with Prostate Cancer’. J Cancer Sci Ther 5: 320­324. doi: 10.4172/1948-5956.1000222.