Shrink Your ENLARGED PROSTATE and Fix Urine Flow

Dr. Eric Berg 11/10/2024

Half of all men will face an enlarged prostate as they age. This is a common issue, but thankfully, effective enlarged prostate treatment exists.

I'll cover what you need to know about benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including the difference between BPH and prostate cancer and what you can do to support prostate health.

We’ll explore the causes, symptoms, and most importantly, enlarged prostate treatment options.

Many men are concerned about prostate cancer when they experience prostate issues. It's important to understand the distinctions.

Prostate cancer involves damaged cells, specifically in the mitochondrion, that turn cancerous and can spread.

BPH, however, is benign; it does not spread, and it does not become cancerous.

Keep in mind this is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Understanding Enlarged Prostate Treatment

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, occurs when the prostate gland grows larger than a walnut.

The prostate wraps around the urethra, the tube carrying urine from the bladder.

As the prostate enlarges, it constricts the urethra, leading to various urination problems.

A digital rectal exam and PSA test can help diagnose BPH. Several BPH symptoms include weak urine flow and urinary retention.

Some common symptoms include frequent nighttime urination, difficulty starting or stopping urination, a weak stream, and the feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.

BPH symptoms can significantly impact men's health. While these symptoms can be bothersome, thankfully, there are many effective enlarged prostate treatment options.

Exploring Causes of an Enlarged Prostate

There are a couple of important theories about BPH development.

These factors can impact hormone levels, influence prostate growth, and contribute to the development of an enlarged prostate.

The following tests include a urinalysis, blood tests (such as a PSA blood test to rule out cancer), a digital rectal exam to assess the prostate's size and shape, and urodynamic tests.

Additional tests include a cystoscopy or transrectal ultrasound. A CT urogram is used less commonly.

As men age, testosterone levels usually go down, and estrogen levels rise.

This estrogen dominance can cause enlarged prostate growth, compounded by weight gain, which often happens as we age.

Fat cells have an enzyme called aromatase that transforms testosterone into estrogen.

Excess estrogen from various sources—like environmental chemicals—can affect estrogen receptors in the body, further influencing the prostate's growth.

Estrogen and related hormone shifts play a key role here. Plant-based estrogens, called "phytoestrogens," affect the body differently and can be protective rather than enlarge the prostate.

Alcohol lowers testosterone and increases estrogen, so that's one good reason to reduce its intake if you want to support prostate health.

Beer, affecting the liver, appears particularly likely to trigger increased estrogen production.

Additionally, aging often comes with an increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent form of testosterone.

Though your testosterone might reduce, your DHT might increase. DHT is linked to hair loss and prostate growth.

Alpha reductase inhibitors can decrease DHT production.

Increased DHT can lead to an enlarged prostate. Men who genetically cannot produce DHT often never develop BPH, highlighting its importance.

Alpha-blockers and reductase inhibitors are two classes of medications. Surgery for the prostate can sometimes become an option for patients.

Effective Enlarged Prostate Treatment Options

This article presents great information that gives us specific treatment recommendations.

This is valuable when choosing the strategy that's best for you as part of any strategy.

Many approaches can bring relief and improve prostate health. Watchful waiting is often appropriate for mild symptoms.

Medications include alpha blockers to relax bladder neck muscles and reductase inhibitors.

Medications and watchful waiting may help patients.

Examples include finasteride and dutasteride (reductase inhibitors) and doxazosin, terazosin, tamsulosin, alfuzosin, and silodosin (alpha-blockers).

Examples include minimally invasive procedures such as the prostatic urethral lift.

Nutrition and Supplementation

Embrace a low-carb diet combined with intermittent fasting to manage insulin levels and support overall metabolic health.

Cruciferous vegetables, like kale and broccoli, offer great benefits, potentially protecting the prostate and increasing the amounts of phytoestrogens.

Legumes containing genistein could also assist. Cruciferous vegetables are very health-promoting. Also, consider certain teas.

For overall hormone health, one can add a concentrated cruciferous compound (DIM) to their supplement plan.

Phytoestrogens in plants offer protective benefits. They do so by blocking harmful estrogens and protecting against prostate enlargement.

Targeting Enzymes

As we've discussed, two enzymes are implicated in prostate issues: 5-alpha reductase and aromatase.

Some approaches support healthier levels of both. This could involve several approaches.

One easy-to-implement habit might be to include a whole, blended lemon in your water each morning.

Another option is to consider adding stinging nettle root and saw palmetto.

Diet and exercise

Lifestyle Considerations

Addressing environmental factors, such as minimizing plastics in your diet can help.

Consuming foods wrapped in plastics might contain estrogen-mimicking compounds.

Choosing organic options of foods may be a better benefit to your prostate.

Limit or eliminate dairy and alcohol consumption.

Filtering your water is important as it may help you avoid estrogen-like compounds.

Reducing insulin and weight by implementing an can have many health benefits for the body.

As ever, focusing on whole, unprocessed foods and being careful of other lifestyle choices (like careful management of drinking water and hydration) supports hormone health and prostate well-being.

Using Urinalysis to Guide Prostate Health and Treatment

For those dealing with an enlarged prostate, a urinalysis can be a valuable diagnostic tool to assess urinary health and guide effective treatment strategies.

Urinalysis helps detect infections, blood, or unusual protein levels in the urine, which may indicate underlying issues caused or aggravated by an enlarged prostate.

Identifying these issues early allows for a more targeted approach to managing symptoms like frequent urination, urgency, or discomfort.

Routine urinalysis can monitor changes over time, helping to determine whether treatment strategies—such as lifestyle adjustments, medications, or natural supplements—are effectively addressing the prostate enlargement.

By integrating urinalysis into a proactive prostate health plan, men can make informed decisions and achieve better symptom management and overall urinary health.

Conclusion

Navigating enlarged prostate treatment may feel overwhelming, but with knowledge and targeted support, prostate health can often be regained.

Both good and not-so-good choices are explained, which allows you to take control of a good treatment plan.

Remember to talk to your healthcare professional for additional support and treatment decisions that match your condition.

While a range of conventional and alternative therapies offer potential relief from troublesome symptoms, lifestyle changes remain a powerful starting point.

This includes minimizing alcohol, focusing on whole foods, limiting dairy, and filtering water.

FAQs about enlarged prostate treatment

What is the main cause of prostate enlargement?

The main causes of an enlarged prostate are complex, often stemming from changing hormone levels (especially lowering testosterone in combination with elevated DHT levels as we age) in addition to inflammatory or enzymatic imbalances.

Excess DHT, a potent testosterone, increases prostate enlargement.

Too little testosterone can have the opposite effect, reducing the possibility of an enlarged prostate.

While not fully understood, the complex interplay of hormonal changes seems to be a primary driver of BPH.

A healthcare provider can discuss diagnosis and treatment.

Can you live a long life with an enlarged prostate?

Yes, BPH is benign. While it can cause troublesome symptoms, it does not necessarily limit one's lifespan.

Quality of life can decrease if its symptoms are ignored. If you are concerned about your symptoms or how to treat an enlarged prostate, you should discuss options with a healthcare professional.

What not to do with an enlarged prostate?

Avoid excessive alcohol, dairy, or high insulin levels when it comes to supporting prostate health.

Plastics, hormones found in some non-organic meat or dairy products and unfiltered water should also be limited.

Some medications may also need to be limited, such as some alpha-blockers for men with existing low blood pressure and certain decongestants and antihistamines due to potential impacts on bladder control.

What is the most effective treatment for an enlarged prostate?

Effective enlarged prostate treatment depends on individual factors.

Factors like the size of the prostate and other health conditions should definitely be discussed with a specialist.

This will help with discussions on medication options and healthy lifestyle approaches.

Early stages of enlarged prostate treatment may be the ideal time to go on a nutritional adjustment or supplementation route.

Some examples of supplements might be stinging nettle, and saw palmetto.

Be sure to consult with your physician regarding these supplements as they might interact with existing medications or may not be recommended for your case.

Surgical approaches do exist when symptoms continue long-term and severely decrease quality of life.

Other surgeries might involve open prostatectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

These surgeries can surgically reduce excess prostate tissue to eliminate symptoms.