A list of 18 foods for prostate health
The prostate is a small walnut-sized gland found inside the male body, and is very important for men’s health. This gland’s main job is to nourish and protect sperm, but it also helps the body to produce testosterone and filter out toxins. Over half the population of men suffer with prostate enlargement (BPH) after the age of 50, which causes problems with urination and can be very painful.
In this article, we will share with you the best 18 foods and herbs you can consume to boost prostate health, especially with age.
1. Walnuts: Walnuts are one of the best foods that you can eat to support a healthy prostate gland. These nuts are loaded with selenium, an important mineral which can help to prevent prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. Walnuts are also loaded with zinc and magnesium which helps the prostate to do its job in making seminal fluid.
2. Avocado: Avocados are one of the world’s healthiest superfoods and are loaded with anti-inflammatory fats and nutrients. They contain a natural compound called beta-sitosterol which reduces swelling in the prostate, helps the urine to flow freely and strengthens the immune system.
3. Pumpkin Seeds are best for prostate health: One of the main causes of prostate enlargement is a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone.) This is a concentrated form of testosterone which is linked to hair loss in men and BPH (prostate enlargement) with age. Eating pumpkin seeds helps to prevent testosterone from being converted to DHT as they are loaded with zinc.
4. Shiitake Mushrooms: Many men have too much estrogen in their bodies, which leads to weight gain, man boobs, erectile dysfunction and enlarged prostate as we get older. Luckily many mushrooms contain aromatase inhibitors. These naturally block the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in the body. Eat these in healthy salads regularly to keep estrogen down.
5. Broccoli: Broccoli contains a natural compound called indole-3-carbinol which can block the growth of prostate cells. It also contains sulforaphane which removes toxins from the body in order to heal the prostate and balance hormones.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar: If you are overweight around the belly area, drink a tablespoon of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a glass of water before each meal. This helps to regulate blood sugars in the body which can help to prevent BPH, prostatitis or enlarged prostate symptoms. This remedy is also used as a natural weight loss aid.
7. Salmon: Wild-caught salmon is rich in healthy omega 3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation in the body. Omega 3’s reduce free radical damage to the prostate which comes with age and have been shown to lower the risk of prostate cancer. Oily fish like Sardines, Trout and Tuna are also great options.
8. Cod Liver Oil: If you don’t like the taste of fish you can take a daily supplement of virgin cod liver oil in capsules. Icelandic cod liver oil is one of the best quality varieties, and be sure to always keep them in the refrigerator.
9. Green Tea: Green tea is well known for its medicinal properties and is rich in antioxidants. These reduce inflammation in the prostate and help to balance hormones like testosterone and estrogen. Green tea also helps to boost immunity and fight harmful pathogens in the body like viruses and other microbes.
10. Garlic: Garlic is well known as one of the best anti-inflammatory foods in the world as it contains healing compounds like allicin, diallyl disulfide and s-allyl cysteine. These natural chemicals in garlic have also been shown to reduce the size of the prostate and help to protect prostate tissue.
11. Kale: The body absorbs many dangerous toxins from the environment such as pesticides, pollutants, heavy metals and microplastics. These are called endocrine disruptors which puts your hormones out of balance and can lead to prostate problems. Cruciferous vegetables like kale help the liver to detoxify these chemicals, balance hormones and protect the prostate.
12. Brussels Sprouts: Eating cruciferous vegetables daily is the perfect way to protect your prostate, as they keep the hormones in balance. Brussels sprouts are known as the king of the cruciferous family and help to keep estrogen levels down in men. Estrogen is an anabolic hormone, meaning that it causes things to grow like the prostate, so we must keep this low in the male body with age.
13. Pickles: It is recommended to eat pickled gherkins and other fermented foods regularly. These foods feed the friendly bacteria in the gut and strengthen your microbiome. Studies show that having more friendly bacteria can reduce inflammation in the body, and reduce the risk of prostate problems.
14. Sauerkraut: This is another excellent fermented food, made from cabbage in Europe. This is one of the best sources of Vitamin C in the world which helps with urination, strengthens the immune system and reduces the risk of cancer in the prostate.
15. DIM: As we mentioned earlier, cruciferous vegetables are very important for securing your long term prostate health. You can also purchase a supplement called DIM, which is a concentrated form of these vegetables. These help to cleanse the liver, reduce estrogen and balance hormones in men. This has the powerful benefit of protecting the prostate gland.
16. Raspberries: Eating a small handful of berries each day can support a healthy prostate as they are loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C. These help to protect the prostate cells from free radical damage that comes with age. Vitamin C also helps with urination if you suffer from BPH. We also recommend blackberries, strawberries and acerola cherries.
17. Saw Palmetto: Saw palmetto is a powerful herb which reduces estrogen in the body and is often used for prostate health. This is one of the most common herbs used as a natural remedy for BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) to help men to urinate normally and reduce prostate swelling.
18. Stinging Nettle Root: Last but not least, stinging nettle root is one of the best anti-inflammatory herbs in the world. Taking this on a daily basis can reduce estrogen in the male body, helping to treat and prevent prostate problems. It is also an adaptogen and reduces stress naturally.
As you can see there are many foods and herbs that you can consume to protect and heal the prostate with age. If you are overweight around the belly area, you are much more likely to suffer from an enlarged prostate as you get older. Having lots of belly fat means that you have a fatty liver, which raises the estrogen hormone and in turn causes prostate problems. If this is the case, then we highly recommend following a healthy keto diet plan and perform intermittent fasting often to shed the extra pounds. The body works as a complex system, so in order to be healthy, we have to balance our hormones and consume nutritious foods often. Men who suffer from prostate enlargement or BPH should cut out alcohol from the diet immediately, as this aggravates the condition. Drinking too much caffeine from coffee and soda drinks can also make symptoms worse and cause problems with urination, so stick to carbonated water or spring water.