Men who have symptoms of an enlarged prostate (aka, benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH), such as urinary hesitation, frequent nighttime urination, and weak urine flow, among others, have a number of options to help shrink the gland. Some of those choices include medications for BPH, which can have nasty side effects, or various natural and herbal remedies.
One of those natural routes includes making lifestyle modifications. What better opportunity to help shrink the prostate than by changing what you eat! A man’s gotta eat, and by including the following six foods in your daily menu, you can increase your chances of reducing inflammation and prostate size.
Remember, however, that you can experience symptoms of BPH and not actually have an enlarged prostate and vice versa: your prostate may be enlarged yet you will not have symptoms. In either case, making these six foods a part of your diet, along with other natural treatments, such as exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping your hormones in balance, taking natural supplements, and limiting irritants such as alcohol and caffeine, will support both prostate health and urinary tract health.
With that introduction, get ready to love these beverages and foods that shrink the prostate.
Avocados
These fruits are among the few foods that provide a good amount of beta-sitosterol, a substance that has been shown to help reduce prostate inflammation, according to a Cochrane review. One study, for example, evaluated 177 men with an enlarged prostate. The participants took 130 mg of beta-sitosterol daily for six months. Both urinary symptoms and prostate symptom scores improved significantly and in fact were comparable to improvements associated with the drug Proscar. Among the other foods that are a good source of beta-sitosterol are amaranth, cilantro, pecans, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, and wheat germ.
Green tea
Green tea contains catechins, including epigallocatechins, which are potent antioxidants that can impact the production and activity of hormones and may be helpful in treating an enlarged prostate. Green tea also inhibits 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that is involved in BPH and which reduces the normal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). An accumulation of DHT encourages the growth of prostate cells and thus an enlarged prostate.
Pomegranates
Both animal and human studies have demonstrated an ability of pomegranates to help manage BPH. In the most recent study, pomegranate juice extract was successful in preventing testosterone-induced BPH. The scientists attributed this benefit to pomegranate’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In an earlier clinical trial in humans, scientists saw evidence that pomegranate juice resulted in a significant increase in nitric oxide metabolites, which appear to be key in helping relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Salmon and other fatty fish
These fatty fish, which also include tuna, herring, sardines, and whitefish, are among the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which may lead to prostate problems when levels are deficient. A new study published in the journal International Urology and Nephrology reported that omega-3 fatty acids had “potential influence” in reducing inflammation in urologic organs, including the prostate. If you don’t eat fish, you can get lesser amounts of omega-3 fatty acids from ground flax seeds, chia seeds, basal, oregano, walnuts, and spinach.
Tomatoes
To reap the most lycopene, a prostate-reducing compound found in tomatoes, be sure you choose tomatoes that have been cooked. Tomato paste, tomato soup, and tomato sauce, for example, are better sources of lycopene than fresh tomatoes (although they have phytonutrients too). Evidence has shown that lycopene can help men who have BPH and lower the blood level of antigen, a protein associated with BPH and prostate inflammation. Other sources of lycopene include apricots, papaya, pink grapefruit, and watermelon.
Vegetables
A number of vegetables, especially broccoli and other veggies that contain the phytonutrient DIM, can help reduce prostate inflammation. To understand DIM (diindolylmethane), you need to know about indole-3-cabinol (I3C), which is the precursor to DIM. Both DIM and I3C are frequently taken to help manage an enlarged prostate. Indole-3-carbinol is a phytonutrient found in large amounts in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (e.g., cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, radishes). Laboratory research indicates that DIM and I3C can help block inflammation in the prostate.
Along with these food options, another choice you can make is to support prostate health with an all-natural prostate health supplement. Prost-P10X contains green tea extract, DIM, and beta-sitosterol, as well as nine other ingredients that promote prostate health.