The Initial Causes What Foods Reduce Prostate Size
One of the first symptoms of prostate issues is pain or tenderness in the groin or lower back. This can be the result of a noncancerous condition called enlarged prostatic tissue, or it could be an infection of the bladder. In either case, its important to see a doctor as soon as possible. If youre suffering from prostate pain, you may want to consider reducing your caffeine intake.
Another symptom of a potentially enlarged prostate is difficulty starting a stream of urine, leaking, or dribbling. These symptoms are not serious, but theyre still alarming. Most men put up with an enlarged prostate for years before seeking medical attention, but they typically seek treatment as soon as they notice symptoms. Even if you dont have symptoms, its worth getting checked to determine if you have any prostate issues.
If you experience nightly bathroom runs, you may be experiencing an enlarged prostate. You may be having difficulty starting a stream of urine, or you may even be dribbling or leaking during the day. These problems arent life-threatening, but can become a nuisance. You should not ignore these signs and seek treatment as soon as you notice them. If you feel any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor.
What Foods Should You Avoid If You Have An Enlarged Prostate
While the exact cause of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is not entirely understood, we do know that what you eat can have a big influence on the health of your prostate. While some foods can help to reduce the risk of developing BPH, as well as lessening the severity of your symptoms, there are others which can actually aggravate the problem including:
- Red meat
- Dairy
- Alcohol.
Unfortunately gentlemen, as we can see, it is often some of our favourite foods that can cause inflammation flare-ups and bladder problems however, knowing the main culprits could help you to manage your symptoms better.
How To Reduce Prostate Size
This article was medically reviewed by . Dr. Litza is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 87% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 95,422 times.
The prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive system that can enlarge with age, putting uncomfortable pressure on the urethra. This can cause urinary difficulties, urinary tract infections , and even bladder stones. By making lifestyle changes and using medication, most men can reduce their urinary troubles. A few men, though, may need to consider minimally invasive or traditional surgery options to feel their best.
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What Foods Are Good For Shrinking The Prostate
A large proportion of males suffer problems with their prostate glands. In most cases, it will be benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as BPH. In other cases, it will be prostatitis. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in males.
Prostate issues are more common in people with a family history. It is also essential to rule out prostate problems in males who experience BPH symptoms.
Lower urinary tract symptoms are usually not due to infections in men. They are not as likely to suffer from urinary infections as women. Thus, prostate enlargement is among on top on the list.
The prostate is located in the bladder neck, surrounding the urethra. Thus, when the prostate is very large, it presses upon the urethra. This growing pressure ultimately causes urinary obstruction and obstructive symptoms-for example, a slow urinary flow and straining to urinate.
Only a few medications can shrink the prostate, and very severe cases are only solved with surgery. However, according to studies and clinical experience, some food choices can reduce urinary symptoms.
What foods shrink the prostate gland? In this article, we will explore the answer to this question.
We will not only consider foods to reduce prostate size. In this list, you will also see others that do not change the size but improve our urinary symptoms.
Foods To Avoid: Sugary Foods
Refined sugar is another no-go for those with prostate problems as this can increase inflammation.
Sugar is abundant in some obvious sources such as fizzy juice and cake, but don’t forget it is also added to processed foods to give them extra flavour. This includes ready meals, crisps, some cereals, white bread and ready-made sauces. You could try cutting down your intake of these things in order to reduce the pressure on your prostate.
They say fresh is best for a reason, so try swapping these processed foods for wholegrain products, fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Not only are these better for the prostate, they are also highly nutritious and healthy too!
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Best Foods For Prostate Health
Surgery is the ultimate treatment for a very large prostate, especially in localized prostate cancer.
If you have prostate cancer, your need to take your treatment seriously and talk to your doctor about it. But even in prostate cancer and BPH, dietary advice plays a significant role.
Eating certain foods may increase your prostate symptoms. Eating others can significantly improve the problem.
How To Add More Tomatoes To Your Diet
Incorporating more tomato-based recipes into your diet is simple.
There are many nutritious tomato dishes to try. For example, adding some sun-dried or fresh tomatoes to salads, eating your eggs with sliced tomatoes or salsa, and enjoying tomato-based soups are excellent ways to boost your lycopene intake.
In the summer months, you can buy fresh, local tomatoes to add to sandwiches and chop into salads.
Drinking plain tomato juice each morning is another good option. Just make sure to pick a low sodium variety.
Summary
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Treating An Enlarged Prostate With Diet
Image Credit:lazzarello / Flickr. This image has been modified.
The majority of American men will develop a pathologically enlarged prostate gland . The good news, though, is that like many other epidemics of chronic disease plaguing the Western world, it can be prevented and treated with a plant-based diet.
The prostate gland surrounds the urethra as it exits the bladder. If the gland gets too big it can constrict the normal flow of urine. Men can be left with a hesitant, weak urine stream, dribbling, irritation, and inadequate emptying of the bladder requiring multiple nightly trips to the bathroom. In the United States, it affects about 50% of men in their 50s and 80% of men in their 80s, but as I note in my 3-min. video Some Prostates Are Larger than Others its extremely rare in certain populations and diet may be to blame for our BPH epidemic. What if you already have it though?
According to a recent review I profile in my 3-min. video, Prostate Versus Plants, the most notable development in the epidemic of prostate enlargement and lower urinary tract symptoms is the recognition that modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet can substantially influence the progression of the disease. All men should consider eating a prostate-healthy diet that includes legumes certain vegetables and certain seeds and avoids refined grains, eggs, and poultry.
For more on the health benefits of garlic and onions see:
Drugs To Prevent Prostate Cancer
Men with benign prostatic hyperplasia are often treated with dihydrotestosterone -lowering drugs called finasteride or dutasteride. These drugs have been studied extensively to determine whether they can prevent prostate cancer, and results suggest that they could reduce cancer risk by about 25 percent. Patients who develop cancer while on the drugs are more likely to get an aggressive form of the disease, so discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your doctor.
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Can Any Foods Help With My Prostate Cancer
You may have heard that certain foods might help slow down the growth of prostate cancer or lower the chance of it coming back after treatment, including:
- soya beans and other pulses
- green tea
- tomatoes and lycopene
- cruciferous vegetables
- pomegranate.
With all of these foods, there is some evidence to suggest they might be helpful for men with prostate cancer, but other studies havent shown any effect. This means we cant say for sure whether any of these foods can help. Until theres more evidence that any individual food has an effect on prostate cancer, its best to have a balanced diet that contains all of the food groups.
Its Complicated: Enlarged Prostate And Sex
BPH and sexual function
Prostate enlargement, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia , and erectile dysfunction are separate problems. Both increase with age, but one causes problems in the bathroom and the other in the bedroom. However, the two are somewhat linked.
BPH happens when your prostate becomes enlarged, but cancer isnt the cause. A mans prostate continues growing throughout most of his adult life. This is why many older men are affected by the condition.
ED is the inability to get or maintain an erection. It can be caused by physical conditions such as:
It can also be caused by psychological issues.
These two conditions dont necessarily seem linked, but certain treatments that relieve BPH can cause ED and other sexual side effects. On the other hand, treating ED can improve enlarged prostate symptoms.
- inability to empty the bladder
- a weak urine stream
A surgery called transurethral resection of the prostate can help relieve these symptoms. Men who have this procedure often experience sexual side effects after surgery.
Between 50 and 75 percent of men experience retrograde ejaculation after TURP, according to Harvard Medical School. This means that semen released during orgasm enters the bladder rather than exiting the penis. Retrograde ejaculation is sometimes called dry orgasm. Its not harmful but can affect male fertility.
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The Initial Causes Foods That Reduce Prostate Size
One of the first symptoms of prostate issues is pain or tenderness in the groin or lower back. This can be the result of a noncancerous condition called enlarged prostatic tissue, or it could be an infection of the bladder. In either case, its important to see a doctor as soon as possible. If youre suffering from prostate pain, you may want to consider reducing your caffeine intake.
Another symptom of a potentially enlarged prostate is difficulty starting a stream of urine, leaking, or dribbling. These symptoms are not serious, but theyre still alarming. Most men put up with an enlarged prostate for years before seeking medical attention, but they typically seek treatment as soon as they notice symptoms. Even if you dont have symptoms, its worth getting checked to determine if you have any prostate issues.
If you experience nightly bathroom runs, you may be experiencing an enlarged prostate. You may be having difficulty starting a stream of urine, or you may even be dribbling or leaking during the day. These problems arent life-threatening, but can become a nuisance. You should not ignore these signs and seek treatment as soon as you notice them. If you feel any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor.
Diet For Enlarged Prostate
Now, apart from following these natural remedial approaches, my cousin also found out that making some changes to ones regular diet and lifestyle can hasten the recovery process. When the right type of foods is taken on a daily basis, some of the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate can be reduced to manageable levels.
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Prostate Cancer Prevention Tips
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say. Healthy eating is one example of how prostate cancer may be prevented and, in turn, how you can help keep your sex life humming along. According to Prostate Cancer Canada, a diet high in red meat or full-fat dairy products and low in fruits and vegetables seems to increase the risk of the disease. So theres one cancer-preventing tip already. Out with the Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and meat-lovers pizza, and in with the apples and asparagus!
New Treatment For Enlarged Prostate Shows Fewer Side Effects
A noninvasive method could offer men with an enlarged prostate effective treatment with fewer complications.
A new treatment could provide men with relief from symptoms of an enlarged prostate with fewer side effects than traditional methods.
The minimally invasive technique isnt entirely new, but a study presented this week at the Society of Interventional Radiologys Annual Scientific Meeting shows that the method could be an alternative to commonly used treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia .
This innovative treatment offers less risk, less pain and less recovery time than traditional surgery, said Dr. Sandeep Bagla, the studys lead researcher and an interventional radiologist at Inova Alexandria Hospital in Virginia, in a press release. We are hopeful that further research will confirm it to be an effective therapy for BPH.
BPH affects about one-third of men 50 years or older, and 90 percent of men 85 years or older. According to Medscape, up to 14 million men in the United States experience symptoms due to an enlarged prostate.
Researchers looked at the medical records of 78 men who were treated for an enlarged prostate using the new technique prostate artery embolization. Doctors performed the procedure as part of their routine clinical practice, not through a clinical study.
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Keeping Your Prostate Healthy
Will You Avoid These Foods To Keep Your Prostate Healthy?Over 200 million men are affected by benign prostatic enlargement worldwide but there are some simple dietary and lifestyle changes that can help alleviate the lower urinary tract symptoms that accompany benign prostatic enlargement . Healthy Diet – A healthy balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats is thought to protect the prostate. There are specific foods known to benefit the prostate such as: salmon, berries, tomatoes, onions, garlic, nuts, broccoli and citrus fruit. It is the combination of antioxidants such as lycopene in tomatoes, omega-3 fatty acids in salmon and sulforaphane in dark green leafy vegetables that protect the prostate by decreasing inflammation and balancing the hormones. There are certain foods which should be avoided or cut out of your diet completely as they can irritate the prostate and increase symptoms of BPH. Avoid these foods to keep your prostate healthy:Red meat daily meat consumption is believed to almost triple your risk of prostate enlargement.Dairy similarly to meat, dairy is also linked to prostatic enlargement and reducing consumption should help reduce BPH symptomsCaffeine acts as a diuretic and may aggravate BPH symptoms by increasing urgency to urinate consumption should by reduced.Alcohol stimulates urine production possibly making BPH symptoms worse. Reducing alcohol can help improve symptoms.
Read press coverage regarding prostate treatments here
Foods To Avoid: Red Meat
A juicy steak, a Sunday roast or some Italian meatballs are just a few popular dinner choices that make use of red meat however, if these are some of your favourites then I have some bad news – they won’t help the health of your prostate!
The problem with red meat is that it elevates levels of arachidonic acid in your body and this, in turn, increases inflammation – the very thing your enlarged prostate does not need! The more inflammation present in your body generally, the more likely you are to have inflammation in the prostate. Therefore, avoiding or limiting your intake of foods which trigger an inflammatory response is a good place to start when dealing with the problem.
The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives to red meat that won’t cause such issues including fish. Why not swap that Sunday roast for a tasty fish stew?
If this doesn’t take your fancy though, simply have a look at our Recipe Hub for some cooking inspiration. Our Healthy Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas is extremely popular, as is our Trout with Creamy Potato Salad.
When cooking from scratch, beans also make a good alternative to meat, plus they happen to be high in protein and fibre.
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Things You Cant Change: Age Race And Genes
Prostate cancer is primarily a disease of aging. As you get older, your chances of developing prostate cancer increase. Race and genetics also play a significant role. If you are African American, your chances of developing prostate cancer are double those of white American men. If your father, brother or multiple blood relatives had prostate cancer, you are more likely to get it, too.
Preventing prostate cancer might be difficult if you have these risk factors, but screening early and often can help ensure that if you do get cancer, its diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
How Your Diet Promotes A Healthy Prostate
The Mediterranean Diet has a strong association between lowering cancer risk and preventing heart disease. This is attributed to the fact that this diet is focused on whole foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans while also focusing on healthy unsaturated fats from plants. With this style of eating, theres also an emphasis on decreasing processed or refined foods along with lowering intake of red meat or processed red meats. It allows alcohol in moderation and its focus on whole foods supports adequate fiber intake. It also allows for a wide range of foods, which means its more of a lifestyle rather than just a fad diet.
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Since this style of eating has a positive impact on cancer prevention, adopting healthy eating habits now could help prevent prostate problems down the road. Some nutrients and vitamins can have a very positive effect on the health of your prostate. Making sure youre getting the right nutrients as part of a balanced diet can play an important role in the health of your prostate.
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