As the body ages, there are significant changes in the organs, hormone levels, and so on. Although most changes with age are common for men and women, specific physical symptoms depend on their reproductive organs. One such problem that older men usually face is an enlarged prostate. These small glands are present behind the urethra, a tube that maintains the flow of urine and semen through the penis.
Many people think that enlarged prostate is a preliminary sign of Prostate cancer. But that is not the truth because the enlargement in the glandular size primarily occurs due to aging and lifestyle factors. In this article, we shall briefly introduce what happens in the disease and the ideal enlarged prostate diet you should follow.
What happens when the prostate enlarges?
Usually, the prostate enlarges in size due to cell degeneration with aging. Once it occupies more space, the gland squeezes the urethra that carries urine from the bladder to the penis.
So, frequent urination or difficulty in the same is a common symptom of enlarged prostate. Also, it is benign, which means the cell growth in an enlarged prostate will not lead to cancer or the formation of a malignant cell mass.
Symptoms of an enlarged prostate
- Having difficulties in urination
- Excessive pain in the lower abdomen
- Needing to urinate frequently
- Having less pressure in urine flow
- Leaking urine
- Having the urge to urinate constantly
These symptoms are the most common, indicating a simple structural change that needs to be investigated. However, the case gets more complicated if you feel a burning sensation while urinating or blood appears in the urine. For this, you should consult your doctor to know more about the medicines or enlarged prostate diet to follow.
Is changing the diet an effective method of enlarged prostate treatment?
Yes, a properly formulated enlarged prostate diet is efficient because it significantly changes your lifestyle. Apart from this, some food items add more nutrients to your body, further increasing immunity and ensuring your body can fight back.
Following are some prime reasons to follow a proper enlarged prostate diet.
- A proper diet will add more antioxidants, preventing oxidative cellular degeneration.
- When you start following the diet, your body receives more water, which can help regulate the urine flow easily.
- Sometimes, nutritionists ensure a diet plan full of minerals and vitamins that help reduce the enlarged prostate.
What foods should you eat for enlarged prostate?
The relationship between the food items with prostate enlargement isn’t clear yet. But if we consider the studies being carried out, indirect relationships have been established, which we have discussed in this section below.
- Sesame seeds
The first and foremost food item that should be there in your enlarged prostate diet is sesame seeds. These are high in zinc and can regulate the normal functioning of the glands. According to studies, it’s proven that most men with zinc levels below 75% suffer from the disease.
So, including a food item rich in zinc will help combat the disease and reduce the enlarged size. You can mix granola with sesame seeds or add these to regular dishes you take as your meals.
- Salmon
Apart from aging, there is another factor that can lead to an enlarged prostate, and that is obesity. It has been found that obese men are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer when compared to regular people.
So, if you want to reduce prostate size, eat salmon. This seafood contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and several other monosaturated fatty acids.
These compounds help combat obesity. Apart from these, omega fatty acids can reduce inflammation and swelling inside the prostate gland.
- Tomato
Tomatoes are red due to the higher content of lycopene which belongs to the carotenoid family.
This chemical compound supposedly alleviates the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) that usually causes inflammation and swelling.
- Berries (Assorted)
One of the major food items to include in your enlarged prostate diet is berries. It would be better to have assorted berries to get all the essential nutrients. For instance, you can add blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries to your morning cereal.
These are delicious and add freshness to any dish. The primary reason to include berries is the higher Vitamin C content, which enhances the immunity power.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the four essential food items to include in your enlarged prostate diet and the reasons to do so. Apart from this, we have also stated the common symptoms of the disease so that you can connect with your doctor at the earliest and get treated.
Read more:
Does Diet Play an Important Role in Preventing Enlarged Prostate?