Age is a huge factor when it comes to ailments affecting the body. One example is prostate gland problems. This affects males who have reached the ripe old age of 50 and is defined by inflammation in their prostate gland. This can cause several painful and uncomfortable symptoms such as difficulty in urinating and increased frequency in urinating. This can lead to bad sleep quality as you would often find yourself getting up at night to urinate.
While more of an annoyance at first, you must take the necessary steps once symptoms start developing as ignoring it can lead to more serious health problems such as prostate cancer. The good news is that there are several natural foods readily available for you to help improve prostate health. These vitamins and minerals can also help prevent prostate cancer and even assist in treatment as it can slow down the spread of cancer cells.
Types of Prostate Conditions
Once males hit a certain age (around the 50 mark), the risk of developing prostate problems increases significantly. There are three conditions that can affect the prostate gland at this stage in life:
The problem here is that during the early stages of all three conditions, the symptoms are extremely identical, making it difficult to differentiate one from the other. The symptoms attributed to these conditions include:
- Increased frequency of urinating.
- Increased need to urinate.
- Difficulty in urinating.
- Frequent nighttime urination.
- Burning sensation during urination.
As the prostate gland is located between the rectum and the lower part of the bladder, it directly affects urination whenever it gets inflamed as it indirectly blocks the flow of urine from the bladder to the urethra. If left untreated, this inflammation can grow even larger which could then almost completely block urine flow out of the body. This inability to discharge urine can cause bladder and kidney infections in the long run.
Most prostate problems can be treated relatively easily, but you should never ignore it once symptoms arise and you are already passed the 50 years of age mark, as this is the period wherein your immune system starts to deteriorate.
In order to help prevent these cases from affecting your health, there are several natural compounds you can incorporate into your diet to help boost prostate health. Below are the top natural extracts you can use to prevent prostate problems.
Saw Palmetto Extract
When it comes to treating prostate gland problems, the premier compound used in these instances is Saw Palmetto extract. Saw Palmetto extract has been proven to help in treating prostate problems and even sexual dysfunction. For the best results, choose a supplement that utilizes Saw Palmetto extract combined with other compounds.
Stinging Nettle Root
Mostly used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, stinging nettle root has been a staple ingredient in prostate health supplements. It is normally paired with Saw Palmetto extract and has shown positive results when it comes to reducing the need to urinate at night.
Pygeum Africanum
This is a plum tree that is native to Africa. This compound can help expel urine out of the bladder, thus, reducing the risk of urinary tract infections.
Lycopene
When it comes to preventing prostate cancer, lycopene has been on the forefront ever since its benefits for this condition were discovered.