Prostate Health

The #1 issue facing men as they age is maintaining a healthy prostate. The Prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits just below the bladder and wraps around the urethra, the tube that brings urine out of the body. When men reach the late 30’s or early 40’s they should begin talking to their doctors about prostate health. In fact, these men should have an examination every year. They must check PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels and they should have a digital rectal exam. Prostate health exams should become the focus of attention for men through middle age and into their later years.

I started taking a supplemental prostate formula at the age of 40 and I’ve been taking it now for eight years, and I’ll continue. You have to start early. Why wait until you’re 50?

The saw palmetto berry is probably the premier herbal source of natural prostate protection. In fact, it has emerged as the world’s #1 herb for all-natural prostate maintenance. Saw palmetto berries are rich in natural fatty acids and sterols that provide valuable support for the prostate. Although whole berry saw palmetto supplements are very helpful, it is best to focus your attention on standardized extracts the provide a high amount of fatty acids.

Often, you will find saw palmetto formulated in combination with other herbs that have strong backgrounds in prostate protection, like pumpkin seed oil, pygeum, nettle, astaxanthin, and lycopene. There are some very powerful formulas out there presenting various combinations of prostate-supporting nutrients. They can be very helpful when you’re setting up a long term plan for prostate maintenance.

Of chores, the individual nutrients are also very effective on their own. Take pumpkin seed oil for instance. It features a nutritional profile ideally suited for the mature male. Pumpkin seed oil provides a balanced blend of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids with unique nutritive benefits for prostate health.

Pygeum is another popular approach to promoting prostate health. The bark of this African evergreen has been used for centuries as a natural tonic for prostate and urinary track maintenance and today herbalists around the world recommend pygeum as one of nature’s most effective prostate protectors.

Research never rests. Scientists continue to study the old standbys for prostate health support and they search out new avenues, looking for breakthrough discoveries. One of the most recent advances is a combination of saw palmetto berries and astaxanthin. A member of the carotenoid family, astaxanthin is remarkably effective at neutralizing free radicals. The combination of saw palmetto and astaxanthin has been shown in studies to provide potent cellular-level protection for prostate tissues by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase.
Another breakthrough in the past few years is the discovery of lycopene’s ability to provide specific protection for prostate tissues. Living in relative obscurity in the recent past, this powerful antioxidant carotenoid is now one of the most highly touted nutrients for men’s health maintenance.

While there are several roads that men can take to help maintain a healthy prostate, the most important things to remember are getting an annual physical exam that includes a prostate check, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and supplementing with nutrients that have proven their value for supporting prostate health.