The foods you eat can impact the health and function of your body. Your body’s organs are also impacted by the foods you eat. For men over age 40, prostate health is a real issue.
The prostate gland is a small and soft walnut-shaped organ. It plays a major role in the male reproductive system, by producing semen, the white milky fluid that nourishes the sperm during ejaculation.
This article discusses food for prostate health men should be eating to promote healthy prostate function.
You’ve heard the expression “you are what you eat.” What you eat can impact your health and the proper function of your body’s organs, such as the prostate gland.
A healthy prostate diet can have many positive effects on the prostate gland for all men, but especially for men in their 40’s and 50’s. As men age, nearly 50% of all men over the age of 40 develop prostate health issues, including enlarged prostate symptoms, kidney issues or bladder infection.
As the prostate gland becomes enlarged, men begin to develop weak urine stream issues. This is due to the prostate pressing on the urethra as it grows, which is the tube that runs from the bladder and through the prostate to the penis to remove urine from the body. The back up of bodily waste can lead to complications in the prostate gland, infections in the bladder and even kidney infections as the toxins build up.
What is a Prostate Diet?
How can eating the right foods for prostate health help men avoid prostate problems and other health issues later in life?
A prostate diet includes fish, chicken, nuts and leafy greens that:
- promote healthy prostate function
- reduce the chances of developing enlarged prostate symptoms
- overcome bladder and kidney infections
- prevent prostate cancer
This article will identify the four prostate foods that must be in your diet to promote healthy prostate function.
We all have been told by our doctors or heard in the media that reducing salt, sugar, fats and trans fats from our diets, while boosting the number of proteins, fruits, vegetables, liquids, fiber and vitamins are critical for optimum health.
This is not jut talk, but is supported by a lot of medical research. That research also has identified the types of foods needed to support the health and function of our organs.
What are the Most Important Prostate Foods?
Red fruits are an excellent source of vitamins for prostate health. Especially important for prostate health are red fruits, such as strawberries and watermelon. These fruits contain lycopene, which promotes proper prostate function.
They have also been shown to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow to the organs. Red fruits are also recommended as a natural remedy for erectile dysfunction as lycopene acts as a “natural Viagra.”
Teas, liquids and broths.
Liquids are good for the male prostate gland as they make it easy for the body to digest and can help remove build up toxins in the prostate gland, bladder and kidneys, especially if the male already has urination issues related to an enlarged prostate.
Broths provide nutrients the prostate needs, which are not found in clear liquid, such as water. Last are teas. There are teas for prostate health, such as black pekoe tea or green teas. Green teas especially provide antioxidant benefits for the prostate gland. Antioxidants repair free radicals that are the cause of most illness and disease, and promote healthy prostate function.
Dark red, green or purple vegetables include antioxidants and offer nutritional benefits for the prostate gland. Red vegetables, like tomatoes have lycopene, which promotes proper prostate function and has been shown to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow. Eating dark fruits and vegetables eliminates free radicals in the body, and reduces the chances of developing prostate cancer.
Eating leafy green vegetables is a good natural source of zinc. The prostate contains more zinc than any other organ in the body. Zinc is a natural intioxidant. While a healthy prostate is high in zinc, medical studies have shown that cancerous prostate tissue is deficient in zinc.
Beans are an excellent source of complex fiber and protein, which is essential for proper prostate function, and they may offer cancer fighting potential as well.
One cup of beans contains about 15 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber, which has been shown to promote prostate health. It is important to increase this type of protein source, while limiting the protein from red meats. A diet heavy in red meats actually contributes to heart disease, colon cancer and prostate cancer.
Making simple lifestyle and dietary changes to add these foods to your diet, will promote proper prostate function, reduce the chances of a man developing prostate problems as he ages, and these foods provide other health benefits as well, so they are true super foods.
In addition to a health diet, adding a prostate supplement will add additional benefit to your prostate gland. Learn more here!
Ken Weiss is a health blogger who is passionate about natural and holistic cures for men’s health issues. He is the founder of menshealthcures.com