As men age, men's health increasingly comes into focus. Reasons for this are often changes in the body that can cause particular discomfort in the prostate and urinary tract. In this article, we would like to explain the relevance of the prostate and urinary tract for the male body and provide you with valuable tips on how to best support your men's health despite advancing age.
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The prostate and urinary tract in the male body
Men are constantly under pressure: whether in the professional world, where they often work overtime and always have to be functional, in private life, or in their social environment. They are constantly running at full speed and like to have everything under control. This can quickly overwhelm a man. But as is in the nature of men, giving up is rarely an option. The first German Men's Health Report, published in collaboration with the Men's Health Foundation and the German Society for Men's Health (DGMG), states that men adhere to their image of the "strong sex" and must not show weakness. This leads to them being exposed to a higher health risk. 1 However, it is by no means unmanly to take care of one's health, but rather a sign of responsibility and respect for one's own body.
From this neglect, complaints often arise in old age that could have been avoided with early control. Besides diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, men - from about 50 years of age - often suffer from an age-related enlarged prostate. This is usually harmless, but because the prostate lies directly beneath the bladder, it can put a lot of pressure on the bladder and trigger increased urinary urgency. The feeling of an incompletely emptied bladder can also be a sign of enlargement. The main task of the prostate is to produce a portion of the seminal fluid that transports sperm. Before it enlarges in old age, the prostate is about the size of a chestnut.
The risk of suffering from prostatitis also increases over the course of life. According to the Robert Koch Institute, around 15% of men suffer from prostatitis at least once in their lives, mostly between the ages of 40 and 50. 2 Inflammation of the prostate is associated with significant pain during urination and is more likely to occur with an enlarged prostate.
Those who neglect preventive examinations risk, in the worst case, that prostate cancer goes undetected. This can initially grow unnoticed and spread to other organs. Symptoms usually appear when it is already too late. Therefore, anyone who experiences severe lower back pain, blood in the seminal fluid or urine, among other things, should urgently see a doctor and have the underlying causes clarified.
How men can contribute to prevention
To prevent prostate diseases and strengthen the urinary tract, it is important to listen to your body and, first and foremost, take your health seriously and proactively support it. We have put together some effective tips and measures that can help you minimize the risk of illness or discomfort:
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Healthy Diet
Even if a healthy and balanced diet does not shrink the prostate, a nutrient-rich diet has a positive effect on the body. A rich diet can help alleviate symptoms of prostate disease. Prof. Dr. Stefan Zimny, chief physician for internal medicine, diabetology and endocrinology at Helios Kliniken Schwerin, comments: "A healthy diet can prevent prostate disease and positively influence the course of the disease in patients." 3
A diet with plant-based instead of animal fats is recommended, as these contain unsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. These include, for example, flaxseed oil, nuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds and avocado. However, the German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends consuming a maximum of 30% of calories in the form of fat. 4 Unfortunately, fatty foods are consumed far too much today, especially in the form of fast food and sweets. Unhealthy fats are linked, among other things, to triggering inflammation in the body and, with long-term and excessive consumption, can lead to diseases such as cancer. Healthy fats, on the other hand, are considered anti-inflammatory and can keep the hormone system, especially testosterone, which is responsible for healthy prostate function, in balance.
Fiber should be another component of the daily diet. Because they are also linked to maintaining hormonal balance. Of course, fruits and vegetables must not be missing from the menu of a healthy diet. In addition to important micro and macronutrients, these also contain secondary plant compounds. These have antioxidant properties and can support both the immune system and the prostate.
Furthermore, adequate fluid intake should be ensured. Usually, about 1.5-2 liters are recommended. This sounds quite little at first, as most people still assume that we should drink about 3 liters a day. However, it is not taken into account that we also consume a lot of water through food.
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Exercise
Lack of exercise is not per se good for the body and can sooner or later lead to significant consequences. A study from 2019 found that certain fat deposits as well as a man's BMI and waist circumference are associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. 5 "On the other hand, adipose tissue influences hormone metabolism," says Prof. Dr. Stefan Zimny. He adds: "Therefore, a normal weight should be aimed for and can be achieved through a healthy lifestyle." 6
Therefore, it is very important to integrate enough exercise into daily life. This can be done through regular sports sessions, but also through a high number of daily steps, e.g., through walks or climbing stairs. Avoiding constant sitting can also be a good start.
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Stress Management
Just as important as physical fitness is mental health. Because stress, lack of sleep, and inner restlessness can be responsible for causing hormonal imbalances. When stressed, the stress hormone cortisol is released, which promotes hormonal chaos. It can also negatively affect testosterone levels and cause inflammation in the body. You can find out how to avoid stress in everyday life in this article: Natural stress management for men and women. If you have trouble falling asleep, this article may help: More restful sleep with 5-HTP.
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Regular Check-ups
Men aged 45 and older can take advantage of a free annual early detection examination. This involves palpating the reproductive organs and the prostate. Noticeable lymph nodes and larger tumors can be detected in this way. However, hidden or smaller tumors can still go undetected, which is why an additional PSA test is advisable for this examination. The costs for the PSA test are not covered by health insurance and must therefore be paid privately. As part of this test, the antigen (PSA) is checked after a blood sample is taken. The higher the PSA value, the higher the probability of prostate cancer. Nevertheless, high PSA values can also have other reasons. Nevertheless, preventive appointments can help to avoid the worst. If you have any questions or concerns about this topic, you can consult your treating physician.
Natural Support
The power of nature offers solutions for numerous ailments and complaints. Many natural plants have a relaxing effect on the muscles. This, of course, also benefits the prostate and urinary tract. In this context, our product N°33 has proven to be successful in supporting the prostate and urinary tract. Many men already rely on herbal remedies, as these generally have no side effects and restore their well-being in old age.
These natural helpers are included in N°33 PROSTA:
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Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto belongs to the palm family. Extracts of the plant are used in traditional medicine to alleviate urinary complaints that occur due to an enlarged prostate. Saw palmetto is often studied in conjunction with other medicinal plants to combat symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. Clinical studies indicate a possible synergistic effect of saw palmetto with other medicinal plants and medications. Recent meta-analyses showed that the effectiveness of saw palmetto is comparable to finasteride and tamsulosin (active ingredients used to treat an enlarged prostate). In addition, taking a saw palmetto preparation significantly better helps in the treatment of mild to moderate lower urinary tract symptoms, nocturnal urinary urgency, and discomfort than a placebo. 7
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Pumpkin Seed
Pumpkin seed extracts or pumpkin seed oil are often recommended for an enlarged prostate to reduce symptoms such as constant urinary urgency, nocturnal urination, and the feeling of not having fully emptied. It is believed that the phytosterols in pumpkin seeds have anti-inflammatory properties. The omega-3 and -6 fatty acids in pumpkin seeds can also support hormone balance - especially testosterone.
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Nettle
Nettles contain many nutrients, including vitamins C, E, A, K and D, as well as valuable minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium. In addition, nettle is rich in secondary plant compounds. The traditionally considered medicinal plant is said to have diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects and to exhibit antioxidant properties. In the case of an enlarged prostate, unpleasant symptoms in the urinary tract can occur. In this context, a study was published that investigated the effect of nettles on age-related prostate enlargement.
A moderate effect on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was observed. IPPS is an index used to assess symptoms of an enlarged prostate. In addition, a moderate to large effect on malondialdehyde values was found. These values are considered markers for oxidative stress. From this, it can be concluded that nettle root extract can indeed have positive effects in alleviating symptoms in the case of an enlarged prostate, but also in inflammation in the body. 8
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Pomegranate Peel Extract
For thousands of years, pomegranate has been considered a medicinal remedy due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This is because the superfood is rich in nutrients and secondary plant compounds. The prostate and urinary tract also benefit from the positive properties of pomegranate, as pomegranate is associated with supporting men's bladder health.
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Black Garlic
Black garlic is nothing more than fermented white garlic, which we usually know. Due to the fermentation, the antioxidants already contained become even more potent. For this reason, black garlic is considered extremely healthy and is also associated with supporting the prostate and urinary tract.
A 2003 study that investigated the potential effects of garlic extract supplementation on age-related enlarged prostate found the following: Patients consumed 1 ml/kg body weight of liquid garlic extract daily. The disease parameters were examined before and after treatment. It was found that the mass of the prostate was reduced and the frequency of urination decreased. 9
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Broccoli Extract
Broccoli is the insider tip when it comes to men's health. Especially the sulforaphane it contains is considered particularly antioxidant. And rightly so, because broccoli contains a variety of nutrients, including vitamins B2, B6, E and C, as well as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and sodium. The power vegetable is said to increase testosterone production and promote hormonal balance. Unfortunately, many nutrients are lost when cooking broccoli, which is why it is recommended to supplement broccoli extract. This also allows for optimal dosing.
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Zinc and Selenium
Zinc and selenium are essential minerals that are indispensable for humans. But in addition to supporting the immune system and providing oxidative protection for cells, zinc and selenium also perform other important tasks in the male body: Zinc contributes to normal fertility and normal reproduction, as well as to maintaining normal testosterone levels in the blood. Selenium, on the other hand, is responsible for normal sperm formation and normal thyroid function. As additional ingredients, they complete the formula and make the N°33 PROSTA product perfect.
Conclusion
Every body changes over the years - that is completely normal and cannot be prevented. However, what we can do is to support our body in its process of change in the best possible way and thus do something good for ourselves. To minimize physical complaints resulting from this, nature has provided us with numerous foods. Due to the positive study reports, it is definitely worthwhile to integrate them into the diet or to supplement them.
Sources
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Stiftung Männergesundheit. (2010). Erster Deutscher Männergesundheitsbericht. Zuckschwerdt Verlag. https://www.stiftung-maennergesundheit.de/publikationen-details/der_erste_maennergesundheitsbericht
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Rohde, V., Katalinic, A., & Wasem, J. (unter Mitarbeit von Aidelsburger, P.). Prostataerkrankungen (Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes, Heft 36). Robert Koch-Institut.
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Gesundheitsberichterstattung Helios Gesundheit. (2022). Gesunde Ernährung für die Prostata. Helios Gesundheit. https://www.helios-gesundheit.de/magazin/news/03/prostata-ernaehrung/
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Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung e. V. (DGE). (2023, 2. November). Fett in der Ernährung: Fakten rund um die Bedeutung von Fett für den Körper. DGE Blog. https://www.dge.de/blog/2023/fett-in-der-ernaehrung-fakten-rund-um-die-bedeutung-von-fett-fuer-den-koerper/
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Dickerman, B. A., Torfadottir, J. E., Valdimarsdottir, U. A., Giovannucci, E., Wilson, K. M., Aspelund, T., Tryggvadottir, L., Sigurdardottir, L. G., Harris, T. B., Launer, L. J., Gudnason, V., Markt, S. C., & Mucci, L. A. (2019). Body fat distribution on computed tomography imaging and prostate cancer risk and mortality in the AGES-Reykjavik study. Cancer, 125(17), 3064–3073. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.32167
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Helios Gesundheit. (2022). Gesunde Ernährung für die Prostata. Helios Gesundheit. https://www.helios-gesundheit.de/magazin/news/03/prostata-ernaehrung/
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Cicero AFG, Allkanjari O, Busetto GM, Cai T, Larganà G, Magri V, Perletti G, Robustelli Della Cuna FS, Russo GI, Stamatiou K, Trinchieri A, Vitalone A. Nutraceutical treatment and prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2019 Oct 2;91(3). doi: 10.4081/aiua.2019.3.139. PMID: 31577095.
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Akbar Karami A, Sheikhsoleimani M, Reza Memarzadeh M, Haddadi E, Bakhshpour M, Mohammadi N, Mehdi Mirhashemi S. Urtica Dioica Root Extract on Clinical and Biochemical Parameters in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Randomized Controlled Trial. Pak J Biol Sci. 2020 Jan;23(10):1338-1344. doi: 10.3923/pjbs.2020.1338.1344. PMID: 32981268.
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Durak, İ., Yılmaz, E., Devrim, E., Perk, H., & Kaçmaz, M. (2003). Consumption of aqueous garlic extract leads to significant improvement in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Nutrition Research, 23(5), 667–674. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0271-5317(02)00513-3
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