5 Ways To Improve Your Prostate Health—from a Physician

The statistics are grim: 1 in 8 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his life. It’s the second most common cancer in men next to skin cancer.

Prostate problems generally start at mid-life for most men. The most common conditions are prostate enlargement (a natural part of aging), prostate inflammation, and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), characterized by difficulty urinating and/or the frequent need to urinate, especially at night.

Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to slash your risk of prostate cancer, as well as prevent common prostate issues. Here are five ways to keep your prostate healthy according to a leading integrative doctor.

Multiple studies have shown that following a whole-foods diet, particularly a Mediterranean-style diet, helps reduce a man’s odds of developing prostate cancer or other prostate issues.¹

Not surprisingly, antioxidant-rich vegetables are strongly associated with a reduced risk of BPH. Dietary intake of lycopene (found in tomatoes and watermelon) and zinc (oysters, crab lobsters, seeds) have both been shown to cut a man’s risk of prostate cancer.

Foods high in polyphenols — including berries, cocoa powder, olives, flaxseeds, nuts, coffee, and tea — appear to offer extra protection against prostate cancer according to research.² 

Foods that contain the plant compound beta-sitosterol are particularly healing to the prostate. These include avocado, peanuts, wheat germ, rice bran, and soybeans.³

Other great foods to emphasize: omega-3-rich fish like salmon (anti-inflammatory), pumpkin seeds, medicinal mushrooms, green tea, and tempeh, which is high in prostate-protective isoflavones.

Foods to limit for prostate health, according to research, include conventional red meat, processed meat, smoked or cured meat, and dairy. If you occasionally have meat, make it organic, grass-fed beef, which is high in prostate-supportive nutrients, including selenium, zinc, and the beneficial fat conjugated linoleic acid.

Exercise is key to keeping your prostate healthy and lowering your risk of prostate cancer. In one study from the International Journal of Epidemiology, men who had a variation in their genetic code that corresponded with greater physical activity, had up to 50% reduced risk of prostate cancer. This study echoes previous research showing that regular exercise helps cut the risk of prostate cancer and other prostate issues.⁴

Supplementing with natural and researched ingredients that are shown to support and promote healthy prostate function can give you the boost of protection you need. ProstaCaid, a researched blend of 33 prostate-specific botanicals and nutrients, actively supports prostate and urinary function, and defends prostate cellular health—even against aggressive prostate cells. Superstar ingredients include turmeric, quercetin, saw palmetto, and pumpkin seed oil. Other additions, such as stinging nettle leaf and alpha lipoic acid, provided much-needed immune and hormonal support.*

One of the most powerful therapies for prostate health is PectaSol, an extensively researched form of modified citrus pectin (MCP). In fact, a new study published in Nutrients revealed that 78 percent of participants experienced prostate health benefits from taking PectaSol, including healthy PSA levels, after six months. This multi-center peer-reviewed clinical study is the third and largest published clinical trial demonstrating that PectaSol is safe and effective as a non-hormonal, oncological nutritional solution to actively support and defend long-term prostate health.*

Modified citrus pectin is naturally derived from the pith of citrus fruit peels, including lemons, limes and oranges. The pectin fiber is reduced to a tiny, absorbable size which gives PectaSol the ability to enter the circulation and bind to and block Galectin-3, a protein that fuels inflammation, hardens tissues and organs, and can wreak havoc with serious health impacts throughout the body. Learn more about PectaSol and prostate health.

Low levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased risk of BPH. It can be challenging to meet your body’s requirement for vitamin D. Here are three simple ways to boost your vitamin D levels:

• Spend 15–20 minutes outside in the sun on most days. Make sure some part of your body that is not covered in sunscreen is exposed to sunlight. Sitting by a window won’t cut it, unfortunately. Most glass blocks UVB rays, which are responsible for vitamin D production.
• Take a vitamin D supplement. First, get your vitamin D level checked with a blood test to gauge your needs. Always combine your vitamin D supplement with a little fat (e.g., a spoonful of full-fat yogurt or olive oil). Store away from light, heat, and humidity.

Stress can have a major toll on your health, so ensure you take some time to yourself to breathe, meditate, or practice self care. When you find calm and relax, you release stress and tension and can reduce risk of serious health issues, like prostate cancer.

By actively supporting prostate health with natural daily steps, you can protect your long-term prostate and urinary health, your vitality and quality of life. Start today.

Sources:

1. Capurso C, Vendemiale G. The Mediterranean Diet Reduces the Risk and Mortality of the Prostate Cancer: A Narrative Review. Front Nutr. 2017 Aug 24;4:38.
2. Miyata Y, Shida Y, Hakariya T, Sakai H. Anti-Cancer Effects of Green Tea Polyphenols Against Prostate Cancer. Molecules. 2019 Jan 7;24(1):193.
3. Bin Sayeed MS, Ameen SS. Beta-Sitosterol: A Promising but Orphan Nutraceutical to Fight Against Cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2015;67(8):1214-20.
4. Nabila K, Philip H, Konstantinos T, et al. Appraising causal relationships of dietary, nutritional and physical-activity exposures with overall and aggressive prostate cancer: two-sample Mendelian-randomization study based on 79 148 prostate-cancer cases and 61 106 controls. International Journal of Epidemiology.2020; 49 (2): 587–596.