Taken from chapter 20 “Prostate” from the book “Live Young TWO times longer”.

For a young man, the prostate is the size of a Ping-Pong ball. At 50, it is the same size as a lemon. At this age, one in two men would already be at risk of experiencing their first issues with their prostate: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The urge to urinate becomes more frequent, more sudden, and may be accompanied by pain, a weak stream, or incomplete emptying. Erection problems may already arise.

At 60, it can be the size of an orange; the underlying symptoms and problems may also increase. The swelling of the prostate is thought to be due to hormonal changes, but also to the natural transformation of testosterone. When enlarged, the prostate reduces the space available for the bladder and compresses the urethra, causing difficulty in urinating.

Good news; hormonal changes related to aging are strongly influenced by our diet and our lifestyle. A study published in 2017, focusing on the lifestyle habits of more than 140,000 men, has shown that the risk of serious prostate problems is reduced slightly among the most fervent consumers of fruit.

In general, here are the factors that increase the risk of prostate problems:

  • Alcohol consumption;
  • smoking;
  • physical inactivity;
  • sexually transmitted diseases;
  • vasectomy (small increase);
  • consumption of animal fat, red meat and dairy products.

And among the prevention factors:

  • lycopene (the red pigment in tomatoes and watermelon);
  • crucifers (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc.);
  • fish and soy;
  • saw palmetto extracts;
  • coffee and green tea;
  • selenium and vitamin D;
  • pomegranate extracts.

Physical activity would also reduce the level of risk and greatly improve the quality of life for people with prostate problems. An important point: prostate health is not only about urination problems, but also the quality of sex life. A healthy prostate helps you get the most out of your sleep as well as when you don’t want to sleep.

Vitoli Prostate contains the best scientifically documented ingredients for prostate problems. It can be taken as a treatment or prevention and it can be used in conjunction with the usual medication (N.B.: it is always advisable to consult your pharmacist). Here are the health claims allowed by Health Canada for Vitoli Prostate:

  • Helps keep the prostate healthy.
  • Used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve urological symptoms associated with mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia.
  • Provides antioxidants.

 

References:

  • Chen et al, 2015. Lycopene and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015 Aug;94(33):e1260.
  • Capurso C, Vendemiale G. 2017. The Mediterranean Diet Reduces the Risk and Mortality of the Prostate Cancer : A Narrative Review. Front 2017 Aug 24 ; 4 :38.
  • Peisch SF, Van Blarigan EL, Chan JM, Stampfer MJ, Kenfield SA. 2017. Prostate cancer progression and mortality : a review of diet and lifestyle factors. World J Urol. 2017 Jun ; 35(6) :867-874.
  • Perez-Cornago A, Travis RC, Appleby PN, Tsilidis KK, Tjønneland A, Olsen A, Overvad K, Katzke V, Kühn T, Trichopoulou A, Peppa E, Kritikou M, Sieri S, Palli D, Sacerdote C, Tumino R, Bueno-de-Mesquita HBA, Agudo A, Larrañaga N, Molina-Portillo E, Ardanaz E, Chirlaque MD, Lasheras C, Stattin P, Wennberg M, Drake I, Malm J, Schmidt JA, Khaw KT, Gunter M, Freisling H, Huybrechts I, Aune D, Cross AJ, Riboli E, Key TJ. 2017. Fruit and vegetable intake and prostate cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Int J Cancer. 2017 Jul 15 ;141(2) :287-297.