What helps enlarged prostate symptoms?
An enlarged prostate, which causes symptoms like frequent and urgent urination, has many possible treatment options. Doctors can prescribe various medications, plus there are natural options such as Saw Palmetto. Changes to your diet and lifestyle can also help, as I discussed in my previous blog '6 natural remedies for an enlarged prostate'.
In this blog, however, I will focus on a few remedies that you are less likely to be aware of. These are:
- Nettle tea
- Cranberry juice
- Pumpkin seeds
Read on to find out more about how these can help your symptoms and how you can add a little more to your diet!
1. Nettle
Nettle root has been shown to have a very promising effect on enlarged prostate symptoms.
Research has shown it could help to reduce prostate size and, in one particular study involving 558 men, 86% saw improvements to their urinary tract symptoms after taking nettle for a period of 6 months.1 Nettle is anti-inflammatory, which may explain why it has this effect.
There are a few nettle root supplements out there, but it is nettle tea that is more readily available.
2. Cranberry juice
Cranberry juice is most well-known for the beneficial effect it can have on symptoms of a urinary tract infection; however, it may also be beneficial for sufferers of an enlarged prostate.
A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that, after 6 months of taking a cranberry supplement, participants reported improvements to their BPH symptoms, such as:
- Less need to urinate at night
- Reduced urgency to go to the toilet
- Improved rate of urine flow.2
Cranberry juice is rich in phytonutrients which are known to be good for bladder health. This may be one of the reasons it is helpful for those with an enlarged prostate.
The study mentioned here used cranberry supplements to test the effect on BHP. Fresh cranberries and juice have not been tested to the same effect, though they are more readily available.
Biotta's Cranberry Juice is one means of increasing your intake of this helpful fruit. It is made from organic, fresh cranberries and is not from concentrate. The cranberries are mixed with a birch leaf infusion and a touch of agave nectar to give it a naturally sharp but refreshing taste.
3. Pumpkin seed
Pumpkins seeds might not look like much, but what they lack in size, they make up for in health benefits. They are a good source of omega-3, iron, B vitamins and more. They are also very good for those with an enlarged prostate. Again, this is something that has been demonstrated through research.
In a review conducted in 2019, 60 men with BPH symptoms were given pumpkin seed extract.3 After 12 weeks, participants reported a 30% reduction in their symptoms. This meant there was less need to urinate at night and it was easier to empty the bladder completely. Participants also reported that they had a better quality of life after taking the supplement, due to the overall reduction in their symptoms.
Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, which is one of the reasons they can be so helpful in easing BPH symptoms. Zinc deficiency, for example, has been shown to increase the likelihood of developing an enlarged prostate.4 Zinc is also anti-inflammatory in nature; thus, it can help to reduce the overall prostate size.
A few other factors that may explain the beneficial effects of pumpkin seeds for patients with BPH are:
- They have diuretic properties which may aid urinary symptoms
- They are rich in Essential Fatty Acids which could help relieve inflammatory symptoms
- They could prevent testosterone from being converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is thought to contribute to prostate problems.
Although this study used pumpkin extract which is much more concentrated than a handful of fresh seeds, you can certainly increase your nutrient intake and reap the health benefits by consuming this food more often!
Roasted pumpkin seedsYou will need:
What to do: Place all ingredients on a baking tray, mix together, and roast in the oven at 180 degrees for 5-10 minutes. |
References
1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16635963/
2 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/effectiveness-of-dried-cranberries-vaccinium-macrocarpon-in-men-with-lower-urinary-tract-symptoms/52ECA7472334ADC599995FF5F4CD9B3E
3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31017505/
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114577/
