Your Prostate Health!
What is the prostate? It is a walnut shaped, fluid secreting gland that sits underneath your bladder by your urethra which is a tube that transports your semen and urine.
Sometimes this gland can enlarge due to an overgrowth of cells. This is called BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). This is NOT a cancerous growth and does not turn into a cancer of any kind but it can cause some unpleasant symptoms because of the pressure it can put on the urethral tube. It is mainly due to hormonal changes which increase more as we get over the age of 50. The hormone responsible for this is the same hormone that causes male pattern baldness, DHT (Dihydrotestosterone).
What are some symptoms of BPH?
Sudden urge to urinate, a weak or interrupted urine flow, straining to urinate and frequent urination especially at night.
What are some treatment options?
Lifestyle changes: Maintain a healthy body weight and stay active! A sedentary lifestyle increases your chances of having an enlarged prostate possibly due to decreased blood flow to that area.
Environmental Triggers: Chemicals from our environment such as BPA which is found in cheap plastics can disrupt our hormones. Look for BPA free plastics and try to use more glass containers especially when heating.
Nutrition: Increasing soy and pumpkin seeds helps regulate the hormonal changes responsible in benign overgrowth of the prostate cells.
Supplements: The most important supplement for the prostate is Zinc. This acts as a co- factor to regulate the amount of testosterone and DHT. One of the first treatments is correct this deficiency.
Botanical Herbs: Once I have determined a root cause of an enlarged prostate, I treat with an herbal prescription. Common herbs used are: Saw palmetto and African cherry extract among others.
Stress Management: Stress can trigger the urinary symptoms. Some ways I encourage stress management are meditation, yoga, walking in nature and deep breathing.
- Dr. Sandip Oppal MD(inactive), ND Naturopathic Doctor