The situation of an enlarged prostate is extremely common as a man ages. Out of every two men that are 50 years old, one will have an enlarged prostate. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlargement of the prostate.
What is the Difference Between BPH and Cancer of the Prostate?
The two main types of prostate problems are benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. BPH is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the prostate gland.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
If you have prostate cancer, you may notice blood in your urine or semen. You may also have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, and you may experience pain during urination or ejaculation.
Symptoms of BPH
BPH is a condition in which the prostate gland enlarges, making it difficult to urinate. The prostate gland is a small, walnut–sized gland located just below the bladder that produces semen. As the prostate enlarges, it presses on the urethra, the small tube that drains urine from the bladder. This can cause urinary problems such as dribbling, difficulty starting or stopping the stream of urine, and the need to urinate more frequently.
What is Estrogen?
There is a growing body of evidence linking exposure to chemicals known as “estrogen disruptors“ to an increased risk of cancer. Estrogen disruptors are found in many common products, including pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals. These chemicals can mimic the effects of estrogen in the body, leading to an increased risk of cancer.
There are a couple things you need to know about plant–based estrogens like phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens can prevent prostate cancer and slow down the progression of the disease if it is in the early stages. However, if the cancer has progressed to stage three or four, phytoestrogens may actually make the situation worse.
As a man ages, their testosterone levels go down and they produce more estrogen. This can lead to BPH, which is a common age–related condition. BPH is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors, and is more common in older men. There is no cure for BPH, but there are treatments that can help to relieve the symptoms.
The hormone estrogen can cause the pituitary gland to trigger the release of another hormone called prolactin. Prolactin can enlarge the prostate. As people age, they often gain weight. Fat tissue contains an enzyme called aromatase that can convert testosterone to estrogen. So, the more fat tissue a person has, the more estrogen they may have.
It is a known fact that alcohol, especially beer, will influence the liver. What many people are not aware of, is that it will also raise your estrogen levels a lot higher than your testosterone. So, not only will alcohol in general lower your testosterone, but it will also raise your estrogen.
There are three types of estrogen: estrogen one, estrogen two, and estrogen three. These estrogens connect to receptors in different parts of the body.
It‘s only estrogen two that can enlarge the prostate, not estrogen one or estrogen three. All those phytoestrogens, those plant–based compounds that affect estrogen, only affect estrogen number one, not two or three. So, phytoestrogens do not enlarge a prostate. The information about plant–based estrogens enlarging your prostate is not true.
What is DHT?
As your testosterone decreases, you also have a powerful form of testosterone called DHT that increases. DHT is responsible for both hair loss and the enlargement of the prostate. As you age, your body produces more DHT, which can lead to these problems.
People who cannot produce the hormone DHT never develop enlarged prostates, so the question is what is causing an increase in DHT production.
What is making more DHT? Well, it has to do with an enzyme called, 5-alpha reductase. The 5–alpha reductase enzyme can lead to an enlargement of the prostate if there is too much of the enzyme present.
Step One to Reduce the Size of Your Prostate
The first strategy to help reduce an enlarged prostate is to consume more phytoestrogens. One common phytoestrogen is genistein, which is found in legumes and other plants. Another strategy is to eat more cruciferous vegetables, such as kale, broccoli, and cabbage, which also contain phytoestrogens.
Step Two to Reduce the Size of Your Prostate
Aromatase converts testosterone into estrogen and using natural versions of aromatase inhibitors are the best way to go in order to block testosterone from converting into estrogen.
Three Natural Aromatase Inhibitors
- Blend the entire lemon, including the peel, white part, and seeds, every morning with some stevia and water. Citrus peels contain an aromatase inhibitor, which can be beneficial for health.
- Another natural aromatase inhibitor is stinging nettle root. Stinging nettle root is also beneficial in reducing inflammation, so if you suffer from arthritis, I suggest you take some of this, too.
- There is another compound called DIM that can help to balance out estrogen levels in the body. You can take it as a supplement as well.
Natural Ways to Block 5-Alpha Reductase
You want to block the other enzyme, 5–alpha reductase, by taking any of the following:
- saw palmetto
- pumpkin seeds
- green tea
- zinc.
Apple Cider Vinegar
I have yet to find any scientific evidence that Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV ) helps reduce the size of a prostate; however, from a personal note, once I started consuming Apple Cider Vinegar I have noticed a significant ease in urine flow. This happened within one week of consuming ACV on a daily basis.
Final Thoughts
Having an enlarge prostate is no joke. It can lead to an array of urinary conditions. Depending on your lifestyle, you may have to change things up. For example, stop drinking alcohol. Also, intermittent fasting (IF) has shown to reduce insulin in your body, and since insulin is known as a growth factor for your prostate, you should integrate IF into your lifestyle.
Finally, remove dairy from your diet. Dairy has been shown to have estrogenic effects, too.
Listen, I love cheese and I love a glass of wine, but there comes a time in your life that you just have to make sacrifices for a healthier body.
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