Prostate problems in men tend to increase with their age. Young men might not even feel the need to maintain their prostate health, but as they age, the chances of prostate issues increase. Usually, men above forty and onwards tend to experience symptoms linked to an enlarged prostate gland. They may feel trouble urinating, pain, or swelling caused by prostate inflammation. Some men are also diagnosed with prostate cancer and the odds of this increase with age.
Maintaining prostate health is important for men’s overall well-being. These glands play a crucial role in the male’s reproductive system, and their health impacts urinary and sexual functions. Though age factors and family history cannot be altered, you can still make several lifestyle changes to keep your prostate health optimum.
Understanding the prostate gland:
In a healthy man, the prostate gland is a walnut-sized organ situated below the bladder. It is closely part of the urethra and plays an important role in the production of semen. As the men get older, this gland becomes enlarged. The enlarged gland causes conditions like prostatitis, BPH, or prostate cancer.
Understanding the conditions related to the prostate gland will help men take proactive steps to maintain their health. Let’s explore what steps you can take to keep your prostate gland healthy.
Maintain a healthy prostate diet:
Eating habits directly do not play into causing BPH or prostatitis. However, overdoing high-fat foods like red meat may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Experts recommend sticking to heart-healthy diets, increasing fruit and vegetable intake, and limiting saturated fats.
A well-balanced diet is important to maintain the overall health of a person, including prostate health. Here’s what you can do to keep your prostate glands healthy:
- Include high-fiber fruits and vegetables in your diet. These foods contain antioxidants and vitamins that aid in protecting against cancer.
- Replace refined grains with whole grains to increase fiber intake.
- Opt for healthy fat sources like olive oil, seeds, nuts, and fatty fish.
- Limit consuming large quantities of red meat. Charred meat particularly, that is barbecued is not a good option as it contains compounds that may increase the risk of cancer.
- Keep your dairy intake moderate. While dairy is important for bone health, therefore it is better to take low-fat dairy options.
- Consider a Mediterranean diet which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This diet is very popular among health experts and it offers benefits for maintaining prostate health too.
Stay active for a healthy prostate:
According to studies, men who consistently work out are less likely to experience prostate issues. Physical activity has several benefits, including lowering the risk of prostate cancer, preventing BPH, and reducing the symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
- Engage in aerobic activities like biking, brisk walking, or swimming for at least 30 minutes in a day. Aerobic exercises help improve cardiovascular health and may lower the risk of prostate problems.
- Include strength training in your exercise routine to maintain muscle mass.
- Engage yourself in interval training which helps in burning belly fat. This type of workout boosts metabolism and keeps the body in a fat burning state.
- If you are unable to do any of the above, just aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
Lifestyle changes for prostate gland health:
Lifestyle changes that you can make to support a healthy prostate gland are:
- Stop smoking: Smoking leads to many hazardous effects in the body. Quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer. A study published in 2022 summarizes that “smokers have a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer, which further increases with obesity.” Smoking can increase urinary symptoms and may impact prostatitis inflammation, but its association with prostate cancer is unclear. However, smoking may delay prostate treatment, as it does for many other diseases. For these reasons—and owing to its well-known influence on general health—it’s typically suggested that men with prostate issues must quit smoking or, better yet, never start smoking.
- Manage stress: Stress can worsen prostate symptoms. It is better to practice stress-reducing activities like meditation and yoga to lower stress levels.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Being obese has many health risks, and prostate issues are also one of them. Eating healthy, and increasing physical activity is the key to losing and maintaining weight.
Natural remedies and supplements for healthy prostate gland:
There are several natural remedies and supplements that you can use to help improve your prostate health:
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Saw Palmetto: Saw palmetto is a palm plant that mostly grows on the coast of the south-eastern United States. It is unclear how and why saw palmetto may help with BPH; some research suggests that the supplement may shrink the prostate gland. Other theories include that it helps in reducing inflammation.
- Green tea: Despite the lack of evidence, it is believed that including green tea in your diet may help your prostate. It is recognized to have chemoprotective qualities which makes it a good option for prostate cancer.
- Soy products: Soy products are rich in isoflavones that have protective effects on prostate health.
- Avoid vitamin E supplements: Although there is no evidence that vitamins or supplements can lower a man’s risk of prostate cancer, there is one vitamin that has been shown to increase that risk: Vitamin E. A nationwide experiment found that patients who took 400 IU/day of vitamin E for around five years had a 17% increase in prostate cancer diagnosis. Taking Vitamin E is not suggested for prostate health.
- Consider prostate support patch and bladder support patch: Prostate support patch is a new technology that is widely becoming popular for its ease of use and benefits. Incorporating this in your busy lifestyle will be a hassle-free solution to maintaining prostate health. You can also use bladder support patch as it also helps in fixing urinary and prostate issues.
Tests for prostate gland:
Tests can be done to diagnose symptoms regarding the prostate gland. These diagnostic tests can tell if you have prostate cancer, benign prostate conditions, or other conditions, including urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Prostate cancer screening guidelines differ depending on whether you’re in a high-risk or an average-risk category. If you are in a high-risk category, you should consider getting examined for prostate cancer starting at age 40. Between the ages of 45 and 55, men who are at normal risk are advised to consider getting tested.
During a physical examination, your doctor will inquire about symptoms like discomfort, fever, or difficulty urinating. They will also enquire about how these symptoms have affected you and how long they have persisted.
Conclusion:
Maintaining a healthy prostate gland needs a combination of dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, and regular physical activity. Men can significantly reduce the risk of prostate issues by adopting these healthy habits. Before adopting any new health regimen, it is best to consult your physician to receive customized advice. It is also important for men above 40 to get regular check-ups of their prostate gland to ensure early detection if any, and treatment of potential problems.