Food for Good Prostate Health

by: Alex Fir

The prostate gland has a reputation as a health destroyer. Hypertrophy of the prostate gland, which affects nearly every elderly male, strangles the urethra. This troublesome condition makes urination difficult and increases the risk of bladder infections and kidney damage.

However, there are many good foods that may already be a part of your everyday diet that can help thwart the onset of prostate problems.

Tomatoes, watermelons, red grapefruit, papaya and red berries are all great sources of lycopene, a health-promoting plant pigment known for its cancer-battling ability. It also promotes a strong immune system and helps support prostate health in men.

Though fresh are always an excellent option, the lycopene in cooked tomatoes is actually absorbed more readily by the body. It is also your ally in the battle against heart disease.

Quercetin, a flavonoid that forms the backbone of many other flavonoids, may have positive effects in combating or helping to prevent many different types of cancer, including prostate. It also acts as an antihistamine and has anti-inflammatory properties, which may be helpful in relieving the pain of an inflamed prostate.

Foods rich in quercetin include apples, black and green tea, onions, raspberries, red wine, red grapes, citrus fruits, broccoli and other leafy green vegetables, and cherries. Quercetin can also be found in honey and sap, including the type from eucalyptus and tea tree flowers.

It is vital to remember to get a healthy balance of foods to keep your prostate healthy, including antioxidants, vitamin E from nuts and seeds, and drink plenty of clear fluids to help flush the bladder.

Try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods. Keeping your weight in check will also help maintain a healthy prostate.

About The Author

Alex Fir shares a wealth of information on his website Prostate Cancer Information. To read more about prostate cancer prevention go to http://www.cancer-data.com/blog/

BPH (Prostate Enlargement) - What Is It and How Can It Be Treated?

by: Wendy Owen

BPH is the enlargement of the male prostate gland. It can have many associated problems including the need to urinate frequently, difficulty in urinating and inability to completely empty the bladder.

The main cause of BPH is age. It’s a very common complaint in older men - indeed over 50% of males 55 years old and over are thought to be suffering with BPH.

It’s important for BPH to be properly diagnosed, mainly to assess treatment options and to rule out other more serious problems such as prostate cancer.

The difficulty here is many males are embarrassed to seek treatment and indeed some will put up with annoying symptoms for years rather than admit to any problems in this sensitive area!

Still others fear being diagnosed with prostate cancer and will spend years worrying about the possibility while being too afraid to know.

All this, while quite understandable, coupled with a natural male reluctance to admit to any weakness is counter productive. Why suffer when it’s not necessary?

Even if there is a problem, it’s much better to know about it. This gives us back some control and ability to make choices among the many options now available.

BPH is what it says - “benign”. Meaning that there is no malignancy. Having been diagnosed then, all worry about cancer should cease! It’s sensible, however, to do everything to prevent prostate cancer - information about which can be found on the site below.

Treatments for BPH fall into 3 categories. Drugs, surgery or natural medications.

Prostate Surgery -

If the symptoms of BPH are severe and causing major problems such as complete inability to empty the bladder, then surgery is the best and probably the only option.. This can take several forms, but the most common is known as TURP.

TURP is performed without cutting and access to the prostate is through the urethra. An instrument is inserted which removes any obstructive tissue, easing the pressure thus relieving the BPH symptoms. TURP is a relatively safe operation.

Drug Treatments -

For those whoses BPH symptoms are not severe - or for those who hate the thought of surgery! - There are two main types of BPH medication.

Hormones - For example Finasteride (Proscar). Hormones work by interfering with the male hormone, testosterone. It is a slow acting and long term treatment. The side effects can be impotence and erection failure.

Alpha Blockers - These act by relaxing the muscle in the prostate itself which prevents urine flow. This is faster acting than the hormone approach but the side effects are weakness and lethargy.

Alternative BPH Treatment

These herbal remedies can be extremely effective without the side effects of drugs. For more information visit the site below.

This article is for informational use only. It is important to seek medical advice if you are experiencing BPH symptoms.

Copyright 2006 Wendy Owen

About The Author

Wendy Owen is a health writer and researcher.

Help for Prostate enlargement, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis and prostate cancer. Super prostate formula. Visit: http://www.safe-prostate-health.com