This one is for all the special men in our lives!

To support Men’s Health Week, this week’s article is all about the prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in Australian men and the third most common cause of cancer death. Around 20,000 men are diagnosed each year with prostate cancer in Australia. With these staggering statistics, it is vital we raise awareness on such an important issue. Below, you will find valuable information and product recommendations to help reduce the risk of prostate related illnesses.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland that is located between the bladder and the base of the penis. The role of the prostate is to secrete fluid that provides nutrients and protection to sperm. The urethra, also known as the urinary tract, runs directly to the middle of the prostate, which is why we often see issues linked to urination when there is something going on with the prostate gland.

Health Conditions Associated with the Prostate

Prostatitis

Prostatitis, which can be short-term, long-term, bacterial and non-bacterial. This occurs when the prostate gland becomes inflamed, sometimes caused by bacteria but isn’t always the cause. Symptoms of prostatitis include pain on urination, sudden urges to urinate, increased urination (especially at night), and backache.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also called prostate enlargement, is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. It is an extremely common condition as men get older. Symptoms include slow urine stream, dribbling after urination, urgent need to urinate and sense of incomplete bladder emptying.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is generally a slow growing disease and most men with low grade prostate cancer live for many years without symptoms and without it spreading and becoming life-threatening. However, high grade disease spreads quickly and can be lethal.  Men affected by prostate cancer typically present with obstructive symptoms, meaning difficulty with urine output. They may also have lower abdominal pain. Upon physical examination, the prostate will feel like a stone. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests will show enlargement of the gland.

Risk factors

The exact cause of prostate cancer is not known. Things that can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer include:

• older age – Around 60% of cases are diagnosed in people age 65 or older.
• family history of prostate cancer – if your father or brother has had prostate cancer before the age of 60, your risk will be at least twice that of others.
• strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer – particularly cancer caused by a fault in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
• race – Men of Caucasian heritage are more likely to develop prostate cancer than Asian men, while men of African background experience the highest rates of death from prostate cancer.
• obesity – having a waist circumference of 100 cm or greater could increase your risk.

While prostate cancer is less common if you are under 55, people aged 40–55 may have a higher-than-average risk of developing prostate cancer later in life if their prostate specific antigen (PSA) test results are higher than the typical range for their age.

Best Prostate Health Products

Nature’s Sunshine Saw Palmetto

The most common prostate supplement ingredient is saw palmetto. clinical trials have shown the berries of Saw palmetto can improve signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Symptoms such as difficulty in urination, frequent night urination and size of enlarged prostate have been recorded. Nature’s Sunshine Saw palmetto capsules provide a high dose 550mg of saw palmetto per capsule to help support prostate health and prostate function.

Seipel Health Prorox

Prorox is our one of our top selling prostate care products. This wonderful product supports both a healthy prostate and bladder control, helping to significantly improve the quality of life in men who suffer from symptoms associated with poor bladder control. The four complementary herbal extracts, in addition to the vitamin and minerals in Prorox work synergistically to promote prostate and bladder health and reduce symptoms of urinary urgency, frequency, and incontinence. Research shows 8 weeks of Prorox use can result in improved bladder control, reduction in night-time toilet visits, improved urinary incontinence and reduction in urinary urgency.

Herbs of Gold Prostate Pro

Herbs of Gold Prostate Pro lives up to its name. In addition to ingredients like Cranberry and beta-sitosterol that support prostate health, this blend also contains lycopene, zinc and selenium which supports overall health and wellbeing. Prostate Pro works to enhance prostate health and to relieve symptoms such as incomplete emptying, frequency and urgency of urination, weak urinary stream and intermittency.

Henry Blooms Bio-Fermented Papaya (with Pomegranate) 500ml

Papaya is rich in lycopene. Lycopene is a natural chemical most commonly found in tomatoes and several other foods such as papaya, watermelon and grapefruit. It works as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in the body and may support the health and integrity of the prostate gland in this capacity. A 2017 study found that papaya can inhibit prostate cancer cell proliferation and therefore, may be a good nutraceutical for preventing and/or supporting prostate cancer in men.

Melrose Organic Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseeds are the richest source of lignans. Lignans are phytonutrients found in a variety of foods including flaxseeds.  Interestingly, flaxseeds contain 75 times to 800 times the amount of other lignans compared to other vegetable sources. When we eat lignans, they have hormone-like activity which can be beneficial in prostate health by positively influencing the metabolism of testosterone and its metabolites. They work by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and too much DHT can cause abnormal prostate growth, leading to an enlargement or causing prostate cancer cells to divide. Numerous studies have found flaxseeds can help maintain overall prostate health and reduce the risk of an enlarged prostate.

Nutra Life Prostate Complete

With just one capsule a day, this supplement can improve your prostate health and helps regulate male hormones, which can also improve sexual health. Specially crafting with natural ingredients including Saw Palmetto with zinc, selenium, and Vitamin D3. The antioxidant zinc supports healthy testosterone levels, selenium supports male reproductive health and Vitamin D3 supports male function.