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There’s Good News and Bad News about Prostate Health …
THE GOOD NEWS:
Research shows some minerals, herbs, and other nutrients can dramatically improve prostate health and reduce prostate cancer risk!
THE BAD NEWS:
Most supplements contain the wrong form of key nutrients... AND... New research shows that the most popular herb for prostate problems, saw palmetto, may actually damage healthy prostate tissue!
Sooner or later most men will have prostate problems … but you don't have to join the club. You can prevent prostate problems before they even begin … and alleviate uncomfortable prostate symptoms quickly and safely, with a superb nutritional supplement.
How much do you know about the prostate gland?
Most men know more about a woman's monthly cycle than they do about their own reproductive system. Yet, prostate problems are just as common in men as PMS is in women. And although a staggering 12 million men suffer from an enlarged prostate, most can't even begin to describe what the gland exactly does. According to a 2001 survey conducted by Rodale's Men's Health magazine, twenty-one percent of males actually believe both men and women have a prostate!
What does the prostate gland do, anyway?
The prostate is the size and shape of a walnut and is located under the bladder and directly in front of the rectum. It secretes a thin, milky, alkaline fluid that:
- Provides about half the fluid in semen
- Helps transport sperm by providing a protective alkaline escort through the acidic regions of the vagina and cervix
- Helps moisten the lining of the urethra
What causes prostate problems?
After about age 40, the prostate begins to grow in just about every male. Sometimes the enlargement is a sign of cancer, but usually the result is a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. Most doctors refer to an enlarged prostate simply as BPH.
In some men, the prostate gland enlarges without causing urinary problems—probably because their urethra is wider than average, or because the gland tends to enlarge outward. In most men, however, as BPH develops, the prostate presses against the neck of the bladder or urethra, squeezing the pipe shut, like stepping on a garden hose. This pressure can make it difficult to urinate and results in a variety of symptoms.
Also, the bladder wall becomes thicker and irritable. The bladder begins to contract even when it contains small amounts of urine, causing more frequent urination. Eventually, the bladder weakens and loses the ability to empty itself. Urine remains in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and partial emptying of the bladder cause many of the problems associated with BPH, including:
- Urgency—the need to go immediately
- During urination, there is a thin stream of urine that stops and starts instead of a full, steady stream
- Hesitancy or difficulty starting urine flow
- Dribbling after urinating
- Nocturia — having to get up frequently at night to urinate
- Increased frequency of urination
- Increased risk of infection if the bladder does not empty entirely and urine is retained
Why does BPH occur in the first place?
Although the exact cause isn't known, there are a few theories. First of all, we've known for centuries that BPH occurs mainly in older men and that it doesn't develop in men whose testes were removed before puberty. For this reason, researchers believe that factors related to aging and the testes may spur the development of BPH.
Editor's Note:
The natural health solutions described in this article are available through many on-line retailers including those listed below. By clicking these links you help support the important alternative health research we provide.
Visit www.amazon.com – a great way to find competitive deals on supplements offered by many different manufacturers.
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This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a physician before embarking on a dietary supplement program.
References
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American Cancer Society
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Ibid.
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Murry, M.T.: "Saw Palmetto: Nature's Answer for Benign Prostate Enlargement." Let's Live, July 1996, 72-73;83
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