We have come a long way in our openness to discuss matters of reproduction. Years ago my father went in to the hospital to have a ‘little surgery’ but he wouldn’t tell us what the surgery was for. If he had had his way we would have never known he was in the hospital. It turned out that the surgery was for prostate cancer. That is nothing to be ashamed of, but he was embarrassed because it was part of his reproductive system and men didn’t talk about that with their daughters, even if they had children of their own. Now days you see television adds about prostate problems almost any night of the week. This is because it is estimated that over 50% of American men will suffer some type of prostate problem by the time they are 60, and the percentages go up the older you get.
An enlarged prostate is known for its characteristic of stopping the urinary flow. This is described as the ‘gotta go’ feeling both day and night, without ever feeling like you completely ‘went’. This is caused by the constricting of the urethra by the prostate gland that wraps around it. What does the prostate do? It is the gland that creates most of the fluid in semen. This is pretty important. Men who have had prostate surgery can have side effects of sexual dysfunction. Other side effects of the surgery can be incontinence, or the inability to hold urine.
It is important if you are having BPH symptoms to see your doctor and first rule out any cancer before determining a treatment method. Many herbal, alternative or OTC options work just as well or better than prescription medicines. Some of these options include saw palmetto, zinc, pygeum, stinging nettle, and pumpkin seeds. Each attacks the problem from a different angle. Some block the offending hormone DHT that has been shown to encourage growth of the prostate gland. Others reduce the inflammation that occurs as the gland begins to swell. Some even work as a mild diuretic to keep fluids flowing freely, instead of backing up behind the gland.
Men who haven’t had any symptoms will want to know how to be in the 50% that won’t have them before age 60. Diet and exercise (Are you beginning to hate that phrase?) seem to be the key here. Daily exercise of at least 30 minutes per day seems to be a key. Men who are physically fit seem to have fewer problems than those who are sedentary. If you have a sedentary job, make sure you get up and move around several times during the day. A diet low in animal fats, red meats and alcohol also seems to impact the development of prostate problems. Essential fatty acids are a different story. Things like fish oil, flax seed, or the above mentioned pumpkin seeds have been shown to decrease the possibility of prostate enlargement. Including cooked tomatoes in your diet has also been shown to help. The anti-oxidant lycopene is made more bio-available when tomatoes are cooked with a small amount of fat.
Zinc is an important mineral for the prostate gland. Many experts recommend anywhere from 20-60 mg of zinc per day. Enriching Gifts Complete Vitamins Plus contains 25mg of zinc in the recommended daily dose. There are some experts that say if you go above this amount you need to be under a doctor’s supervision, though they don’t say why.
Reading all the different books it becomes pretty clear that to prevent BPH you need to live a strong and healthy life. The Enriching Gifts product line is designed to help you do just that. If those 30 minutes a day of exercise makes your muscles ache add a little Enriching Gifts Aloe Ace-Max to your daily regimen. Enriching Gifts Plant Enzymes begins the process of healthier digestion and a stronger immune system. Anti-oxidants such as Enriching Gifts Metabolic Complete or Enriching Gifts Heart Algae are your foot soldiers against both disease and aging. Although none of these directly address BPH they all help you in your fight to live a healthier and more energetic life.
Nature’s Medicines by Gale Maleskey and the Editors of Prevention Health Books, copyright 1999 by Rodale Inc.
The Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White MD and Steven Foster, copyright 2000 by Rodale Press
The Good Herb by Judith Benn Hurley, copyright 1995 by Judith Benn Hurley.
Blended Medicine Combining Mainstream and Alternative Therapies by Michael Castleman copyrighted 2000 by Michael Castleman.
Smart Choices in Alternative Medicine by Samuel Benjamin, M.D. copyrighted 1999 by Meredith Corporation.
Common Herbs for Natural Health by Juliette de Bairacli Levy copyrighted 1997 by Ash Tree Publishing.
