Alcohol Won’t Worsen Prostate Symptoms
Urology Meeting: Drinking OK Low-Carb/High-Fat Diet Inhibits Prostate Cancer
May 22, 2006 – If you’re a drinker or an Atkins dieter, there’s good news for you from this week’s annual meeting of the American Urological Association in Atlanta.
Several meeting reports focused on how lifestyle affects the symptoms of an enlarged prostate and the risk of prostate cancerprostate cancer.
Among the findings:
- Drinking alcohol — even more than six drinks a week — doesn’t make the symptoms of an enlarged prostate any worse. In fact, men who drink more than is otherwise good for them have fewer prostate symptoms and better sexual function than teetotalers.
- A low-carb/high-fat diet slows the growth of prostate tumor cells.
- America’s increasing rate of prostate cancercancer matches increasing consumption of meat, fats, and oils in prepared foods, ice cream, salad/cooking oil, margarine, and vegetable shortening.
What Drinks Are Bad For An Enlarged Prostate
Caffeine is inflammatory in nature, meaning itll likely make the problem of an enlarged prostate worse. Breakfast tea and coffee are the biggest culprits here but dont forget that many fizzy drinks and energy juices are also full of caffeine.
As I explained earlier in this piece, sugar can exacerbate any existing inflammation in the prostate gland so this gives further reason to avoid the likes of fizzy juice and energy drinks.
Another one to avoid if you have an enlarged prostate is alcohol. Again, this is inflammatory, though it also dehydrates us, drains our magnesium stores and increases the urge to urinate, all of which will make enlarged prostate symptoms more noticeable.
If youd like to know more about alcohol and an enlarged prostate then take a look at my blog How does alcohol affect an enlarged prostate?.
Worst Foods For Prostate Health And Foods You Need To Add To Your
Home»10 Worst Foods for Prostate Health and Foods You Need To Add To Your
The prostate is a small gland that is instrumental in reproductive functioning in men. When healthy, it is doughnut shaped and wrapped around the urethra, the tube through which men urinate.
There are three primary ways in which men suffer poor prostate health.
- Non-cancerous enlargement (enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia or BHP
And there is no doubt that diet plays a crucial role in both prostate health and minimization of symptoms in those with prostate disease. In this article, we take a look at some of the foods to avoid and some new ones with which to replace them.
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Symptoms And Causes Of Enlarged Prostate
For the majority of men, constant trips to the bathroom at night may be the first sign of an enlarged prostate. Other symptoms include:
- Straining to urinate
- A urinary stream that starts and stops
- A weak or slow urinary system
- Frequent urination
- Urinating again minutes after finishing
When your bladder is not completely empty, you increase your risk of developing a urinary tract infection. You could also develop bladder stones or discover blood in the urine. If you are unable to urinate, then consider it a medical emergency and contact your doctor immediately.
Common Treatments For Enlarged Prostate
Treatment is unlikely to completely resolve all of your symptoms but can considerably improve them. The type of treatment you receive will depend on how severe your symptoms are and how much they affect your quality of life.
If you have mild symptoms, having no treatment may be a suitable option. You can see your doctor every year to review your symptoms or when your symptoms change. Symptoms do not always worsen and can improve on their own.
The main treatments are:
- Surgery and other medical procedures
You may be able to manage your symptoms through lifestyle changes alone, such as:
- Drinking less in the evenings and not drinking fluids at all two hours before you go to bed
- Eating more fibre a low-fibre diet can cause constipation, which can worsen your symptoms by putting pressure on your bladder
- Reducing alcohol, artificial sweeteners, caffeine and fizzy drinks these can irritate your bladder and worsen your symptoms
- Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles
- Wearing pads or a sheath inside your underwear to deal with leaks sheaths look like condoms but with a tube at the end that connects to a bag strapped to your leg under your clothing
You can also try changing your urinary habits:
If lifestyle changes arent enough, your GP may recommend medications, including:
You can also check with your GP that medications youre taking for other conditions are not worsening your symptoms.
Surgical procedures
Surgical procedures carried out on your prostate include:
Catheters
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Live A Lifestyle You Can Maintain
You can do the keto diet for a month just to lose weight. There are lots of diets you can do. But can you sustain it? There are circumstances where it can be suitable to diet, but for most of us, there isnt a need. Eating well isnt about discipline. Its what you should naturally want to do without too much effort. If it is an effort and youre going back and forth, if you cant say no to the dessert, then you need to address this. Free your mind so you can live life fully.
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What Are The Best Things To Drink For Your Prostate
1 Green Tea Green tea is one of the best drinks to consume if you want to take care of your prostate. 2 Tomato Juice Image source: pixaby.com You dont need to be a rocket scientist to know how healthy tomatoes are. 3 Pomegranate Juice
What kind of smoothie is good for enlarged prostate?
Our apple and spinach smoothie, for example, balances sweet apple and honey with nutritious, subtle-tasting spinach. Alternatively, our banana and avocado smoothie has a delicious mix of fruit and vegetables to help you get those all-important antioxidants and vitamins into your diet.
Is it bad to drink orange juice with an enlarged prostate?
Now, orange juice is readily available in supermarkets but, as many products contain added sugar and preservatives, youll have to take care over which one you pick. Sugar is particularly bad for anyone suffering from an enlarged prostate as it can increase general inflammation, thus making symptoms like frequent, urgent urination more pronounced.
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Tips For Cutting Back On Caffeine
Kicking caffeine to the curb may help your BPH symptoms, but doing so can be challenging. Caffeine is a stimulant, and its often addictive. Learn more about the effects of caffeine on the body.
- difficulty concentrating
- flu-like symptoms
Here are some tips to help lessen your caffeine intake and reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms:
- Keep a journal. Knowing how much caffeine you have each day, including caffeine in coffee, tea, chocolate, medications, and foods, can help you cut back. You may be having more than you realize.
- Dont quit cold turkey. This may cause withdrawal symptoms to be more severe. Instead, gradually reduce your caffeine intake. For example, if you have two cups of coffee each morning, have one instead or make yourself a cup that is half decaf and half regular coffee.
- Brew for less. You can easily reduce the amount of caffeine in your morning cup of coffee by simply brewing it for less time.
- Cut the caffeine. Try herbal or decaf teas instead of regular tea.
- Get enough rest. If youre overly tired, you may be more tempted to turn to caffeine for a quick pick-me-up.
- Take a walk. If you feel tired during the day, try walking for 5 to 10 minutes. This may give you a boost of energy and help you avoid that extra cup of coffee.
Treatment for BPH varies. You may not need treatment, or you may need medication or surgery. In addition to limiting caffeine, you may benefit from these lifestyle habits:
Complications Of Prostate Enlargement
Benign prostate enlargement can lead to:
- A urinary tract infection
- Acute urinary retention a sudden inability to pass urine, which needs the insertion of a catheter to drain your bladder symptoms include severe lower tummy pain and swelling of the bladder to the point that you can feel it with your hands
- Chronic urinary retention only some of the urine in your bladder is passed when you urinate
Benign prostate enlargement does not increase your risk of prostate cancer.
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Benign Enlarged Prostate: Prostate Problems: What Can I Do Myself
Many men know what itâs like to feel the urge to urinate often and have to make regular trips to the toilet at night. These problems are usually caused by a benign enlarged prostate. If the problems caused by the prostate are only minor, it is often possible to manage them by simply changing a few everyday habits.
The gradual growth of the prostate gland is a normal part of aging in men. At some point it may cause urination problems, though. Men who have only mild symptoms can often cope quite well without treatment. There are a few strategies that can help in everyday life:
It is also a good idea to review the medications you are taking with a doctor or pharmacist. Some medications can increase the production of urine or affect the bladder muscles, making the symptoms worse. These medications include:
- Diuretics: medications that make the body release more urine, also used to treat things like high blood pressure.
- Antispasmodic medications.
- Certain medications for the treatment of Parkinsonâs disease and .
Your doctor can advise you on possible alternatives that donât make the prostate problems worse.
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How Are Prostate Problems Treated
Treatment for prostate disease depends on the condition and how severe the symptoms are. Sometimes, no treatment is required.
If you have an enlarged prostate, then you will need treatment only if it is causing you problems. The treatments include medication and surgery.
If you have prostatitis then medications, including antibiotics, can help.
If you have prostate cancer, then there is a choice between waiting to see if it will grow quickly or not and having treatment like surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. You will need to talk to your doctor in detail about this.
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When Should I See The Doctor
As the symptoms of prostate enlargement are similar to prostate cancer, its important to see your doctor if you have any of the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Even if the symptoms are mild, they could be caused by a condition that needs to be investigated. Any blood in your urine must be investigated by a GP to rule out other more serious conditions.
How Do You Know If Your Prostate Is Infected
How is prostatitis diagnosed?
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Exercise And Lose Weight
Exercising and losing weight are some of the best things you can do to promote prostate health. Many studies show that moderate or vigorous exercise reduces risk of BPH and urinary tract symptoms and helps with prostatitis as well. Exercise also benefits your cardiovascular health and can help prevent other health and sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction.
If you are overweight, losing weight is one of the most important natural changes you can make in improving your prostate health, whether your concerns are cancer, BPH or prostatitis. A study published in the Journal of Urology found that overweight men, especially men with a high amount of abdominal fat, have an increased risk of BPH. If you are looking to shrink the prostate, losing weight can help you reduce your prostate size and help relieve annoying and frustrating urinary symptoms. On top of that, weight loss can reduce your risk for prostate cancer and help relieve prostatitis, too.
Foods To Avoid: Caffeine
Avoiding or limiting your caffeine intake, including coffee, tea, energy drinks and fizzy drinks, is another thing that can make a big difference to your urinary health.
Caffeine has a diuretic effect which means it can increase the urge to go to the toilet. On top of this, drinking these beverages, especially late at night, can irritate the bladder and so will make it more likely that you’ll need to use the loo. As it is difficult for men with an enlarged prostate to empty their bladder completely anyway, consuming caffeinated drinks will only add to the problem.
There are now so many caffeine-free drinks available that it shouldn’t be too much of a challenge to swap your usual brew for something a little kinder to your bladder.
Chamomile tea is particularly beneficial as it has anti-inflammatory properties. If you favour coffee, though, then Bambu, our caffeine-free coffee, is a great alternative.
On top of this, another important drink for your prostate is water. It’s vital you stay well hydrated if you suffer from the condition but remember not to drink anything at least 2 hours before bedtime.
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When To Contact A Medical Professional
Contact your provider right away if you have:
- Less urine than usual
- Back, side, or abdominal pain
- Blood or pus in your urine
Also contact your provider if:
- Your bladder does not feel completely empty after you urinate.
- You take medicines that may cause urinary problems, such as diuretics, antihistamines, antidepressants, or sedatives. DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider.
- You have tried self-care steps for 2 months and symptoms have not improved.
Diet & Exercise Tips For Prostate Health
“What can I eat to reduce my risk of developing prostate cancer?” This is one of the most common questions physicians hear from men concerned about prostate health. Undoubtedly, many hope that their doctor will rattle off a list of foods guaranteed to shield them from disease. Although some foods have been linked with reduced risk of prostate cancer, proof that they really work is lacking, at least for now.
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Foods To Avoid: Eggs & Poultry
A study published in the January 2006 issue of Urology explored the connection between diet and BPH symptoms.1 It found that eating eggs and poultry appeared to increase symptoms. This may be to do with the fact that egg yolks have high levels of arachidonic acid, which, as mentioned earlier, increases inflammation.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you must cut eggs and chicken out of your diet completely this is just one study and more research would be needed to make a more thorough conclusion on the issue. However, I would advise you not to focus your diet around these foods and to get more variety instead. Vegetables are an excellent option as they contain and array of nutrients and can be incorporated into meals like curries and soups, as well as snacks.
Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria
The criteria for inclusion were: casecontrol and cohort studies evaluating the relationship between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer original articles published in English up till December 2014 articles that reported findings in odds ratio, hazard ratio, incidence ratio or standardized mortality ratio and articles reporting at least three levels of alcohol consumption with drinking amounts, including the reference level. Articles with no abstainer group or a lowest drinking level greater than 0.33g/d were excluded. Additionally, studies reporting total alcohol consumption were included while studies based on consumption of specific beverages only such as wine, whiskey, vodka, sake or hard liquors were excluded. When the results of the study were published more than once or if the same dataset was used multiple times, only the most recent or more complete data were included in analyses. The primary outcomes of interest were mortality and/or morbidity from prostate cancer .
While published and peer reviewed cohort or casecontrol studies were included in the review, all other article types including narrative reviews, letters, editorials, commentaries, unpublished manuscripts, dissertations, government reports, books and book chapters, conference proceedings, meeting abstracts, lectures and address, and consensus development statement including guideline statements, were excluded.
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Symptoms Of Prostate Enlargement
Several symptoms may develop when a man has an enlarged prostate. Men should be on the lookout for these symptoms. Recognizing signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia early on can ensure treatment is initiated before complications develop.
The treatment can also help to effectively stop the growth of the prostate. This ensures symptoms do not become more severe.
Some of the symptoms a man may experience when they have an enlarged prostate include3:
- Initiating urination may be difficult
- The man may have a consistent urge to urinate
- The man may also have to get up to urinate at night more frequently
- The urinary stream may be weak and slower than usual
- There may be a sensation that the bladder is not completely emptying
- During urination, the urine stream may frequently start and then stop
- The man may also need to strain while they urinate
The effects of an enlarged prostate on the bladder can cause complications. The man is at risk of urinary tract infections. This is due to incomplete emptying of the bladder. In turn, additional symptoms may experience. This could include swollen lymph nodes and fever.
Incontinence and acute urinary retention may develop as a complication. Some men may also find that blood appears in their urine. There is also an increase in the risk of bladder stones. This is a complication caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia. There is also a rare risk of experiencing damage to the kidneys and bladder due to an enlarged prostate.