{"id":24083,"date":"2021-06-24T07:00:55","date_gmt":"2021-06-24T13:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betternutrition.com\/?p=24083"},"modified":"2021-06-24T08:37:02","modified_gmt":"2021-06-24T14:37:02","slug":"prostate-health-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betternutrition.com\/conditions-and-wellness\/mens-health\/prostate-health-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Keys to Prostate Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to prostate health, the most common concern for men is benign prostatic hyperplasia<\/a> (BPH), an age-associated condition that involves enlargement of the prostate gland. As men age, their likelihood of developing BPH and associated symptoms increases dramatically. This common condition affects approximately 50 percent of men between the ages of 51 and 60. And roughly 90 percent of men over age 80 have this condition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When BPH occurs, it reduces urine flow, which causes a variety of troublesome symptoms. Men with BPH often experience waking up multiple times at night to urinate, frequent or urgent need to urinate, waiting for the urine flow to occur while standing at the toilet, a slow urinary stream, dribbling at the end of urination, and the inability to empty their bladders completely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Men with severe cases of BPH can end up with urinary retention and hospitalization or surgery. Pharmaceuticals are often used to treat BPH, but they carry risks such as sexual dysfunction, breast enlargement, fatigue, decreased libido, and headache.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Do So Many Men Get BPH?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There is no single cause of BPH; instead, there are several different causes, including genetic factors. However, one thing that researchers can agree on is that as men age, changes in hormone levels affect prostate enlargement. Research has mainly focused on testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a metabolite of testosterone, is associated with BPH. Prostate gland tissue contains the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone into DHT. The production of estrogen is primarily controlled by the enzyme known as aromatase. Aromatase converts the hormone androstenedione (synthesized by the testicles and adrenal glands) into the estrogen known as estradiol. Also, aromatase converts testosterone into estradiol from fat and muscle cells. <\/span><\/p>\n

Men tend to accumulate fat as they age, which provides more aromatase activity. There is a direct correlation between increasing obesity in men and increased aromatase activity. <\/span><\/p>\n

Nutritional Imbalances & BPH<\/span><\/h2>\n

All of these are associated with an increased risk of BPH:<\/span><\/p>\n