The most common prostate issues include prostate cancer, enlarged prostate due to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), or prostatitis. The best way to prevent prostate problems is by living a healthy lifestyle. There are also many natural ways to promote better prostate health even if you already have symptoms or a diagnosis.
If you are already experiencing prostate troubles, these natural changes can help keep these conditions from getting worse, help relieve symptoms, and even help cure them.
My protocol for healthy prostate includes:
1. Drink tea and water
a. Green tea & hibiscus tea – top drinks for prostate health
i. Green tea:
1. High in antioxidants
2. Studies show green tea can help prostate cancer and may slow growth of aggressive prostate cancer
3. Can also help BPH and prostatitis
b. Choose caffeine-free tea
i. Caffeine can irritate the prostate and bladder
ii. Study found that men who consumed 234 mg or more of caffeine each day were 72% more likely to experience urinary incontinence compared to men who drank the least amount of caffeine
iii. If you have urinary or pain symptoms due to prostatitis, caffeine can make these symptoms worse
iv. If you have BPH or prostatitis, make an effort to reduce your caffeine intake by cutting back on coffee, soda or energy drinks
v. Avoiding caffeine can make a big difference in your urinary health
c. Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water
i. Do not drink less to reduce urine
2. Exercise and lose weight
a. Moderate or vigorous exercise reduces risk of BPH and urinary tract symptoms, studies show
b. Also helps with prostatitis, cardiovascular health, and can help prevent sexual problems (i.e. erectile dysfunction)
c. If overweight, losing weight is one of the most important natural changes you can make to improve prostate health
i. 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
ii. Can help reduce prostate size and help relieve frustrating urinary symptoms
3. Eat a prostate-friendly diet
a. Areas of the world where men have lower prostate cancer rates (i.e. Asia), they all have something in common: DIET
i. They eat fish and plant-based sources of protein
ii. They don’t a lot of sugar or processed foods (like Americans)
b. Prostate-healthy foods include:
i. Oily fish high in omega-3 fatty acids
ii. Vegetables
iii. Avocados, nuts, olives (healthy fats)
iv. Asian mushrooms
v. Tomatoes
vi. Pomegranate juice
vii. Walnuts
c. BEST DIET – low in sugar, processed foods & saturated fats
d. Mediterranean diet
4. Take supplements
a. Vitamin D-3
b. Zinc citrate
c. Graminex flower pollen extract
d. Quercetin
e. Saw palmetto
f. Merivacurcumin
g. Green tea leaf extract
h. Cranberry
i. Stinging nettle
j. Plant sterols
k. Pygeum
l. DIM (diindolylmethane)
5. Reduce stress
a. Stress negatively affects prostate health
i. Some men subconsciously tighten pelvic muscles when stressed
iii. Can be one of the causes of chronic prostatitis
b. Can also affect BPH
i. Can worsen urinary urgency, frequency and pain
c. Techniques like therapy, meditation, deep breathing, exercise & yoga can help
Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu is a Research Professor of Prostate Cancer and Holistic Medicine –faculty of Holistic Urology, Da Vinci College of Holistic Medicine, Larnaca City, Cyprus. He is the National President of the Alternative Medical Association of Ghana (AMAG). A registered alternative Medical practitioner with specialty in orthomolecular oncology, Prostate Cancer Policy maker and researcher. He can be reached on 0541090045. E mail: [email protected]