Natural Remedies For Prostate Enlargement
Author: Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph, Ph.D. with Virginia Hopkins
Source: Prescription Alternatives
There are nutrients and herbs that can dramatically improve the symptoms of prostate enlargement in men over time. Your best bet is to find a formula that combines the following ingredients.
Zinc
Zinc is necessary for the proper function of the prostate gland. In men, higher concentrations of this mineral are found in the prostate than anywhere else in the body. A recent study looked at zinc supplementation in young men and found that when plasma zinc levels were low, there was a corresponding drop in testosterone. There have been many clinical studies showing that zinc supplementation can reduce the size of the prostate gland, along with troublesome symptoms.
It’s a good idea for all men to take 10 to 14 mg of zinc daily, and include zinc-rich foods in the diet such as oysters (well cooked, please!), lamb chops, and wheat germ. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc and also rich in the amino acids alanine, glycine, and glutamic acid, which seem to have a positive effect in reducing the size of the prostate. A handful of dried pumpkin seeds a day is plenty. Please don’t get pumpkin seeds that have been roasted in oil and salted – the oil is probably rancid and you don’t need the extra salt. Plain roasted pumpkin seeds have a pleasant, nutty flavor. Pumpkin seed oil capsules are also available.
Selenium
Selenium is another important mineral in male hormone regulation that is found in large amounts in the prostate. Blood levels of both zinc and selenium are low in men who have prostate cancer. Men who live in areas where the soil is rich in selenium tend to have lower rates of prostate cancer. Rich sources of selenium are garlic, shellfish, grains, and chicken.
Pygeum Africanum
Pygeum Africanum, an evergreen tree from Africa, is an important part of your healthy prostate program. The bark of pygeum helps balance hormone levels and reduce prostate inflammation. Pygeum also improves the quality and quantity of prostate secretions.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is your most important prostate herb. An extract made from the berry of saw palmetto (Serena repens), also called sabal, a palm tree native to Florida, Texas, and Georgia, has been shown in numerous studies to reduce the urinary symptoms caused by prostate enlargement. Although the exact action of saw palmetto hasn’t been pinpointed, it is theorized that it inhibits the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This is the same thing Merck was trying to accomplish with its drug Proscar, but as tends to happen, the herb shows no side effects, seems to be more effective, and is significantly less expensive! It’s also possible that it opposes or blocks estrogen.