surgical procedures are also often rec- ommended to reduce prostate size (these generally require hospitalization and can cause loss of sexual function for up to one year, bleeding, and continued urination problems for two months). The numerous conventional cancer
treatments include various types of surgery (including nerve-sparing surgery), radia- tion, chemotherapy, and vaccine and hor- monal therapies, all of which involve risks and numerous recovery challenges.
Natural Approaches to Prostate Health
The nutrients discussed below in order
of priority are a few that can help maintain prostate health and are especially indi- cated if any of the urinary symptoms men- tioned above have just begun to develop or are mild. The most supportive natural prostate formulas include all of these (e.g., Life Extension’s Ultra Natural Prostate For- mula).
Saw Palmetto
(Serenoa serrulata sabal)
Saw palmetto is a dwarf palm gener-
ally found in the southern United States whose red-brown berries have been stud- ied extensively in Europe as a treatment for BPH. It functions like Proscar®, yet can be used with few and rare side effects and no known drug interactions. The recom- mended dose is 160mg (standardized to 85-95% sterols) twice daily.
Nettle Root Extract (Urtica dioica)
For more than a decade in Germany,
nettle root extract has been approved for treating BPH. As men age, testosterone converts to estrogen at higher rates. Some unpublished data indicate that nettle root helps support prostate cells, which are sensitive to estrogen’s growth stimulatory effects, against that excess estrogen. Other data suggest that it reduces prostate size by inhibiting the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase. The recommended dose is 120 mg twice daily.
Beta-Sitosterol
Beta sitosterol, the most abundant
phytosterol in the diet that is prescribed for BPH in Europe, is found in various plant foods, including pumpkin/sunflower seeds, soybeans, and wheat germ. Although the means by which it reduces BPH symptoms
www.naturalnutmeg.com June 2010
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is essentially unknown, animal research indicates that beta-sitosterol may signifi- cantly relieve BPH urinary symptoms by functioning like Proscar® and reducing prostate inflammation. Recent studies sug- gest that this nutrient may also have some direct anticancer potential.
Pygeum (Prunus africana bark)
Twelve double-blind, placebo-con-
trolled pygeum trials support its ability to reduce BPH symptoms. Pygeum bark con- tains three plant sterols: beta-sitosterol; beta-sitosterone, and campesterol. These components decrease the symptoms of BPH by inhibiting the formation of “bad prostaglandins” (chemical messengers produced by the prostate that affect ev- erything from inflammation to blood pres- sure) that normally increase as men age. The recommended effective dosage is 50- 100 mg twice daily.
Pumpkin/Pumpkin Seed Oil/ Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Pumpkin seeds, found highly con-
centrated in oil form, contain unsaturated fatty acids that have the diuretic effect of increasing urine flow and decreasing urine retention without reducing prostate size. There are also reports that daily use of pumpkin seed oil can lower PSA. The rec- ommended dose is 2000 mg once to three times daily with food. The correct doses of EPA and DHA,
the omega-3 essential fatty acids (i.e., those that the body cannot manufacture) found in the oil of fatty fish (e.g., sardines, salmon, herring, tuna, and mackerel), can help resolve the inflammation underlying all prostate conditions. (Vegetarian flax oil contains only ALA, which must convert to EPA.) Some authorities maintain that GLA, found in evening primrose, black currant seed, and borage oils, is an omega-6 fatty
acid that is also a potent anti-inflammato- ry. The recommended therapeutic dose to enhance prostate health is 1000-2000 mg of EPA and 500-1000 mg of GLA (includ- ing that from food).
Conclusion
Nutritional supplements and a healthy
diet are part of a holistic approach to pros- tate health. You can increase your risk of prostate cancer by eating too much, eating too much saturated fat, and taking in too many toxins from food and water contami- nants. Supplements cannot take the place of a diet rich in omega-3 and omega-9 (e.g., from olive oil) fatty acids, antioxi- dant-rich berries (e.g., blueberries, straw- berries, goji berries), fiber (e.g., lignans in ground flax seeds/flax oil), and dark green vegetables (e.g., broccoli, spinach, brus- sels sprouts, and cauliflower). Ideally, if you have, or want to prevent, a prostate condition and wish to incorporate supple- ments into your daily regimen, seek the guidance of a holistic practitioner whose expertise is informed by extensive clinical experience.
Submitted by Michael Dworkin, P.D.,
M.S., a Registered Pharmacist and State Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CT Certi- fication #00203), with J. Erika Dworkin, Dip.C.N./Board Cert. Holistic Nutrition (pending). Owner of the Manchester Parkade Health Shoppe (860.646.8178, 378 West Middle Turnpike, Manchester), Pharmacist Dworkin has been guiding pa- tients since 1956 and is available for con- sultation by appointment. Erika is available to speak to groups. References are avail- able upon request. The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of the natural remedies discussed herein are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or pre- vent any disease.
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