Movember - supporting prostate health

This month is all for the boys. The first day of Movember is today and therefore I thought to support this it would be a good idea to provide some information, starting with prostate health. 

Prostate health

The prostate is located just above a man’s bladder and is roughly the size and shape of a walnut.  One of its primary functions is to help with seminal fluid quality.  In the UK 50% of men 50 – 60 years have prostate problems such as prostatitis or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), by the age of 85year the risk rises to 90%. Due to the locality of the prostate, its enlargement can also cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). 

Problems with the prostate can be multifactorial, therefore the approach I have gone with today supports hormonal levels, blood sugar and the anti-inflammatory pathway. These suggestions are suitable for all men of all ages whether they are dealing with prostate problems or in good health.

The Testosterone Link

The prostates characteristics are governed by sex hormones such as testosterone which is converted to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5α-reductase. DHT is an androgen that is 5 times stronger than testosterone and is responsible for stimulating growth factors that may affect prostate enlargement.  As men get older their testosterone levels tend to decline yet DHT remains high in prostates that become inflamed/enlarged.  Due to this relationship the medicinal route would be to inhibit the testosterone conversion there are also to natural remedies that are commonly used for the same purpose

Zinc

The richest amount of zinc found in a man is in the prostate and a deficiency has been linked to the enlargement or inflammation of the prostate. There is a far greater requirement for this mineral by men than women as it is needed for the formation of semen and modulation of DHT production. Therefore, rich sources on a day to day basis would be oysters, pumpkin seeds, nuts.

A high libido would be a good reason for including plentiful amount of zinc rich foods. The loss of too much zinc through seminal fluid may result in inflammatory conditions such as prostatitis. 

Saw Palmetto

Has been long used as a natural way to support prostate health. It is believed to reduce the size of the prostate gland by inhibiting the production DHT. By reducing the size of the prostate the saw palmetto has also had a positive effect on any urinary symptoms.

Exercise

At least a couple of times a week, it would be a really good idea to go to the gym to do some weight bearing exercise. Not only does exercise reduce stress levels but it also encourages the release of testosterone which is especially beneficial in later years.

Support the immune system

Vitamin D – good excuse for a summer holiday

A study involving health professional at Harvard recently found that those that had low serum levels of Vitamin D were more inclined to have prostate problems. This may be due to vitamin D supporting the immune system. There were similar results when men that spent time in the sun were compared to those who didn’t.  The ones that didn’t were also lower in vitamin D and more susceptible to prostate problems.

Lycopene

Ever wondered what makes tomatoes their colour- its the natural carotenoid lycopene.  There has been a lot of research supporting its use for prostate health as it has been shown to support the integrity of prostate cells.  Try including tomatoes daily, mind you, make sure you cook them and add a fat such as olive oil is what helps make the lycopene more bioavailable.  

The alkalising effect

Celery Seed

This can be a bit of a god send if men do also get urinary infections as the celery seed can have an alkalising effect therefore taking the sting out of passing urine.  

Keep healthy