Suppliment Pros

The prostate is a doughnut-shaped male sex gland. Normal size about that of a walnut. It is positioned beneath the urinary bladder. It encircles the urinary outlet, or utethra. During ejaculation, the muscles in the prostate squeeze fluid from the prostate into the urethral tract. Prostatic fluid makes up the bulk of semen.

Prostatitis, inflammation of the prostate gland, is common in men of all ages. The usual cause is infectious bacteria that invade the prostate from other areas of the body. Hormonal changes associated with aging may also be a cause.

Problems arise when the inflammation result in urine retention. This causes the bladder to become distended, weak, tender, and itself susceptible to infection. Infection in the bladder is easily transmitted up the ureters to the kidneys.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is the gradual enlargement of the prostate. Half of all men over the age of fifty and three fourth of men over 70 are affected by this condition. This is largely attributable to hormonal changes associated with aging.

After the age of around 50, a man’s testosterone and free testosterone levels decrease, while other hormones, such as prolactin and estradiol increase, creating an increase in the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a very potent form of testosterone. All this is happening in the prostate causing a hyperplasia (overproduction) of prostate cells. Ultimatedly resulting in prostate enlargement.

The major symptom of enlargement of the prostate is the need to pass urine frequently. A man may find himself rising several times during the night to urinate. Pain, burning, and difficulty in starting and stopping urination. Blood in the urine is not uncommon.

Symptoms

• Frequent urination
• Urination that is hard to start or stop
• Dribbling
• The sensation of an incompletely emptied bladder
• Increased nighttime urination
• Burning pain with urination
• Reoccurring bladder infections

Root Causes

• Hormonal changes
• Nutritional deficiencies
• A diet that’s high in fat and low in fiber

Foods that help

• Tomatoes
• Pumpkin seeds
• Flaxseeds
• Flaxseed oil
• Green tea
• Plenty of clean water to keep fluid moving through the urinary tract.

Saw palmetto and Pygeum are excellent herbs for prostate health.

Saw Palmetto

• Reduces the conversion of testosterone to DHT
• Blocking DHT from binding to prostate cells
• Reducing the effects of estrogen and progesterone on the prostate cells
• Causing smooth muscle relaxation
  ( allowing the urethra to open more effectively and preventing the back-up of urine)

Pygeum a study involving three urology centers looked at the effects of Pygeum on the symptoms of BPH. Researchers concluded through urine flow measurements that pygeum induced significant improvements, including nighttime urination.

Testing for prostatitis and enlarged prostate usually involves a digital rectal exam plus a blood test that screens for levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), a protein secreted by the prostate.
These products are are for a healthy prostate!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm and is filed under Nutrition, Supplements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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