Prostate disorder is one of those diseases which are on the increase, particularly in the Western world. One reason why it attacks Western men in particular is our excessive intake of animal-derived foods such as red meat and dairy products. The typical Asian diet consists of fruit and vegetables, a much healthier nutritional regime, and one associated with a much lower level of prostate problems in these societies.
Prostate disorder is a particularly distressing condition which may cause chronic pain, difficulty in urinating and even cancer. The best way to guard against prostate conditions is leading a healthy lifestyle but if you have prostate problems already, you might like to consider natural prostate remedies and supplements to your diet, which can help improve a man’s prostate health.
Most supplements for prostate health can be found in ordinary natural foods that are readily available. Here are some of the supplements which I consider to be advantageous to prostate health.
Tomatoes are rich in a substance known as Lycopene, an antioxidant agent which inhibits the decay of body cells. Studies have found that lycopene helps reduce cancer and heart disease and can prevent malignant prostate growth. Research has demonstrated that men who ate tomatoes or tomato-based foods daily had a lower risk of developing prostate cancer. Other research shows that the risk of developing prostate cancer decreased with increasing blood lycopene levels. Lycopene is best absorbed by the body when tomatoes are processed. This is because lycopene is tightly bound to the tomato’s cell structure and processing releases the lycopene from the cells. So it would seem that one of the best natural prostate treatments is a regular intake of tomato based sauces and dried tomatoes. Alternatively you could take a lycopene capsule daily. They are readily available from your local health food store.
Zinc is a most effective mineral, a really worthwhile natural prostate remedy, in the fight against prostate problems. Studies have demonstrated that zinc deficiency is one of the causes of prostate enlargement. It is considered an essential trace element, playing a critical role in cell growth and in building the immune response system. Since men lose zinc when they ejaculate, they need this particular mineral more than women. A daily intake of 50 to 100 milligrams of zinc is recommended, but sadly the average diet in the Western world yields only 15 milligrams. It is no wonder that prostate problems are on the increase. Zinc can be found naturally in shellfish, yeast and pumpkin seeds, but if these are not to your taste, try a daily zinc supplement capsule, which you can get from the health food store.
Pomegranate juice is the latest discovery in the search for natural remedies in the fight against prostate problems. Pomegranates contain active compounds, known as ellagitannins, which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In a recently published clinical study, pomegranate juice supplements were found to slow down the progression of prostate cancer. Other research has shown that intake of pomegranate, either raw or juiced, will help the fight against abnormal prostate enlargement. Just a tumbler-full a day should do the trick. If you don’t like the taste of pomegranate, capsules are available as an alternative treatment for natural prostate health.