如何改善前列腺

阅读提要：当前列腺细胞异常分裂并繁殖时，会发生前列腺肥大或良性前列腺增大，导致器官尺寸增大。前列腺肥大会导致情绪低落，和泌尿和性功能障碍等不舒服的症状，这些问题会降低个人的整体生活质量。

当前列腺细胞异常分裂并繁殖时，会发生前列腺肥大或良性前列腺增大，导致器官尺寸增大。前列腺肥大会导致情绪低落，和泌尿和性功能障碍等不舒服的症状，这些问题会降低个人的整体生活质量。良性前列腺增生（BPH）与癌症无关，不是那么严重的健康威胁。

以下有4种自然疗法，这可能有助于缓解良性前列腺增生（BPH）症状。对于前列腺肥大的家庭疗法包括：

1. 番茄红素
番茄红素是水果和蔬菜中发现的天然色素。一项研究发现它可能有助于减缓BPH的进展。

番茄是番茄红素对大多数人来说最丰富的来源。通常，水果或蔬菜颜色越深或粉红色，番茄红素含量越高。番茄红素的其他来源包括：
番木瓜
粉红葡萄柚
西瓜
番石榴
萝卜
红色甜椒
杏子
红卷心菜

2. 锌
慢性锌缺乏症已被证明可能增加发生BPH的可能性。服用锌补充剂或增加饮食摄入锌，有助于减少与前列腺肥大相关的泌尿系统症状。

家禽，海鲜富含锌，某些种子和坚果中，如芝麻和南瓜也是不错的选择。

3. 绿茶
绿茶中含有大量称为儿茶素的抗氧化剂，已被证明可以增强免疫系统，并有可能延缓前列腺癌的进展。

需要提醒，绿茶中含有咖啡因，而咖啡因可以刺激膀胱并引起便意，可能会恶化BPH症状。因此要少量。

4. 南瓜籽
南瓜籽含有β-谷甾醇，一种类似于胆固醇的化合物。初步研究表明，β-谷甾醇可改善尿流量，还能减少排尿后留在膀胱中的尿量。

研究建议每天服用10克南瓜子提取物，治疗BPH症状。

前列腺肥大的原因？

在绝大多数情况下，BPH是特发性的，这意味着它没有已知的病因。医生和研究人员仍在试图弄清为什么有些人的前列腺细胞会异常分裂。但大多数前列腺增生病例影响40岁以上的男性，最常见的是50岁及以上的男性。

大多数研究表明BPH与激素改变有关，特别是那些随着年龄自然发生的改变。随着男性年龄的增长，他们的激素水平会发生变化，特别是睾酮，雌激素和睾酮副产物（称为双氢睾酮（DHT））的水平。

研究表明，这些激素平衡的变化可能会引发一些前列腺细胞异常生长和分裂。

前列腺肥大的风险

前列腺肥大的潜在危险因素包括：
•年龄
•糖尿病
•肥胖
•家族史
•心脏病
•亚洲血统

大多数男性在60岁前有50％的机会患有前列腺增生症，到85岁时有90％的机会。

可以多吃这几种食物

这些食物和营养素可以减少引发BPH及其相关症状。对BPH有益的食物包括：
•富含纤维的食物，如全谷物，豆类，豆类和黑暗的绿叶蔬菜；
•水果和蔬菜富含抗氧化剂，通常是深红色，黄色和橙色的品种；
•富含锌的食物，如鸡蛋，大多数类型的海鲜和坚果；
•含有植物雌激素的产品，如大豆食品，鹰嘴豆，苜蓿和蚕豆；
•富含ω-3脂肪酸的食物，包括大多数鱼类和一些坚果和种子。

BPH患者及有风险人群应避免：
•咖啡因
•人造甜味剂
•酒精
•尼古丁
•碳酸饮料
•淀粉质，精制食品
•红肉

做出饮食改变可能有助于控制或预防前列腺肥大和任何由此产生的症状。

管理前列腺增生的生活小贴士

生活方式提示可能有助于控制前列腺肥大的症状，包括以下几点：：
•在离开家之前至少尝试小便一次，以避免在公共场合发生尿漏或其他突发事件，这会让人非常紧张和尴尬。
•第一次小便后几分钟内再次排尿，在洗澡时尽可能排空膀胱。
•尽量不要在睡前2小时内饮用液体，以免排尿过多。
•每天至少喝2升水保持水分。
•尽量保持健康的体重。
•尽可能经常地锻炼。
•试着不要一次喝太多酒。
•尽量减少或避免压力，减少排尿的欲望。
•避免或限制，造成脱水产品，如感冒药和减充血剂。
•使用吸水性的尿垫或裤子来吸收尿漏，减少潮湿和不适。
•做做尿道按摩，排尿后，轻轻按压手指从阴囊底部向上挤压尿道中的任何尿液，防止以后发生渗漏。（吴茜茜编译）

参考资料
MedicalNewsToday：How to shrink the prostate naturally

（责任编辑：吴茜茜）

If you are one of the 14 million men who suffer from an enlarged prostate due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it is understandable that you would like to find a way to shrink your prostate or at least reduce its symptoms. 

You may wonder how to take the prostate back to a younger, more normal size that doesn’t keep you running to the bathroom all night long.

When enlarged, the prostate gland (which is located at the base of the bladder) can put pressure on the urethra and cause symptoms such as frequent urination and nighttime urination. The growing prostate can also keep the bladder from completely emptying and can affect the flow of urine, making for a weaker flow, starting and stopping of the flow, and urinary tract infections. More severe cases of BPH can make it difficult to urinate.

Even though BPH is not cancerous, it does affect a man and his family’s quality of life. If you are waking up several times a night to urinate, chances are you are waking up your family members at least some of the time. Having to stop activities due to urinary urgency can have an effect and cause stress and annoyance for everyone involved.

Growth of the prostate with age is normal. One-third of men experience symptoms of an enlarged prostate by age 50. By age 70, 70 percent of men are affected, according to Johns Hopkins. So what can you do about it? Actually, there is a lot you can do. Even though the prostate does grow with age, there are things you might be doing that fuel this growth, just as there are lifestyle habits, dietary factors and supplements that can fight and help you manage this growth. Check out these five natural ways to shrink the prostate gland.

No. 1: Get Moving

Several studies have concluded that moderate or vigorous exercise is very helpful in reducing risks and symptoms of BPH. Not only does exercise reduce risk of BPH and urinary tract symptoms, but also it provides benefits for your heart health. This can help you prevent other health and sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction. 

No. 2: Slim Down

Obesity is one of the largest contributors to BPH. If you are overweight, one of the best ways to drop your prostate problems is to drop some pounds. Losing weight can help improve your urinary symptoms. A bonus is that weight loss also reduces your risk for prostate cancer.

The Journal of Urology published a study that found that overweight men have an increased risk of BPH. Abdominal fat in particular may play a role. The researchers examined 5,667 men ages 55 and older. They assessed the risk of BPH for each man each year for seven years. All of the men who had a body mass index above 25 had an increased risk for BPH that ranged from 13 percent to 29 percent. They evaluated abdominal obesity by dividing waist measurement by hip measurement. The men who had a ratio of 1.05 or higher had an increased risk of BPH of 45 percent.

No. 3: Strive for Balance (hormonal, that is)

Experts believe that the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) promotes the growth of prostate cells. When testosterone and estrogen are imbalanced, DHT activity can increase and encourage the growth of prostate cells. That is why it is important to keep an eye on and manage your hormones, which you might have noticed begin to change after the age of 40.

Both exercising and maintaining a healthy weight help to keep your testosterone and estrogen balanced, but there are natural supplements that are worth looking into as well. Both pygeum and plant sterols like as beta-sitosterol contain active components that can inhibit DHT production. Another supplement, 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM), naturally supports the balance of testosterone and estrogen and promotes normal prostate size.

No. 4: Eat Better

Your diet also greatly affects your prostate health. If you follow the best diet for prostate health (one that is low in red meat and higher in fish or vegetable sources of protein, fiber, fruits and vegetables), you can reduce your risk factors for BPH. Foods that promote good prostate health include those high in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, tuna and sardines. Lycopene-rich tomatoes benefit the prostate, too.

What you should not eat is also important. Avoid foods that your prostate hates such as red meat, dairy, wheat, fried foods and sugar.

You also need to drink well. Stay hydrated, and limit your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day. Drinks like green tea and cranberry, which are both also available in supplement form, are beneficial as well.

No. 5: Try Natural Supplements

There are many prostate supplements that can benefit an aging prostate and support normal urinary health, like the abeeco Prostate Formula. When shopping for supplements, look for formulations that include ingredients that can help with overall prostate health. As already mentioned, there are several supplements that help support hormone regulation. One of them, pygeum, has also been found in studies to be useful in reducing BPH symptoms. While studies have not found that pygeum actually shrinks the prostate, it does help offer relief of urinary symptoms. Curcumin is another supplement that can help regulate the inflammatory processes that support health of the prostate. Saw palmetto is a well-researched supplement that studies have found as effective as popular drugs for BPH without causing the scary side effects of prostate drugs. 

The Next Step

Hopefully, these five natural steps to better prostate health offer relief from your prostate symptoms. Even though there is a lot you can do to help manage your prostate health by changing your diet and lifestyle, prostate symptoms sometimes linger. If you have tried everything from exercise to weight loss to diet and supplements and your symptoms do not improve, you should see your doctor for further testing.

Your doctor may suggest other treatments such as medication or surgery. There are risks associated with these treatments, so make sure you make an informed decision and ask a lot of questions before starting any treatment.

Chances are you will find that improving your diet and lifestyle will make a positive difference in your prostate health and in the way you feel in general. If you at least get a better night’s sleep, that alone has to improve your mood, energy and outlook on life.

By Dr. Geo Espinosa