What are the Best Prostate Supplements for Male Health?

There are a number of prostate supplements on the market all promising to boost male health and prevent BPH and prostate cancer. But not all of these natural remedies have science behind them, so it's important to choose wisely when it comes to men's health supplements.

By the age of fifty, over half of the male population will face a condition known as benign prostate hypertrophy, an enlargement of the gland caused by the accumulation of DHT, a derivative of testosterone. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including a lack of the mineral zinc, a vitamin B6 deficiency, fatty acid depletion, toxins, bacteria or pesticides. Any of these can contribute to the conversion of testosterone to DHT, causing the gland to swell.

Supplements for prostate health can address these issues, and not only help prevent BPH but also help alleviate the pain and slow the progression of an existing prostate problem. That's why more and more men are turning to natural prostate supplements to give them a fighting chance and decrease their risk of prostate cancer.

One of the most popular and well-researched prostate suppliments is saw palmetto, an herb from a tree native to the Atlantic seaboard. The active ingredient of this herb is beta sitosterol, a powerful compound that can actually interfere with the conversion of testosterone to DHT. As such it can prevent enlargement of the gland. It has also been shown to go one step further and shrink the prostate as well as relieve urinary problems associated with the condition.

Red clover is another of the popular supplements for prostate health, and acts in a similar fashion to saw palmetto extract. It's a member of the pea family, and can inhibit DHT formation through its powerful antioxidant ability.

In addition to the prostate herbs there are vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that can be helpful to men. As we mentioned above, a lack of zinc can exacerbate the problem, so ensuring that your body gets enough of this essential nutrient is crucial. It is also an important part of many other body processes.

The B Family of vitamins can also help; in particular B6 should be present in all prostate supplements. This vitamin regulates the hormone involved in testosterone conversion to DHT. As such it is able to ensure that benign prostate hypertrophy is kept in check, and even prevented.

Another nutrient making headlines is lycopene, which can be found in many popular male formulas. This is a powerful extract from tomatoes which can reduce inflammation and prevent the onset of prostate cancer. Although you can get it from eating tomatoes, a supplement can ensure lycopene content, where the fruit might be lacking by the time it hits store shelves.

Before choosing any supplements for prostate health, make sure you speak with your doctor first and discuss your options. Although many prostate suppliments are available as stand alone products, you might reap more benefits from a comprehensive formula that contains herbal extracts, vitamins, minerals and other ingredients for male health.

Since BPH affects so many men, it's important that we learn as much as we can about this condition. Prostate supplements just might be the answer to the problem.

David Bloom is a health enthusiast and contributor to many fitness sites. He is the author of Prostate Supplements, a section of Herbal Supplements Guide dedicated to treating specific men's health concerns.

 

What Is Prostate Cancer - Understanding It

What is prostate cancer? This is a question many people have asked themselves after they, like millions of others, have been diagnosed by their doctors with the problem. An answer to the question of ?What is prostate cancer? isn't an easy one either.

Defining the Disease

The first step to finding the answer to this fairly common question is to understand the basic nature of the disease. Prostate cancer is a growth of abnormal cells in the prostate gland. It can be caused by a number of factors, and if it is treated immediately, it is unlikely to be fatal.

Who Gets Prostate Cancer?

This question is a bit tougher to answer than ?What is prostate cancer.? Scientists are desperately trying to find a connection among victims of this horrible form of cancer so as to better understand the course of the disease itself. In general, prostate cancer victims are thirty percent of all male cancer cases in the United States. Black men tend to suffer from the problem more than white men, and the older you get, the higher your risk factors are for prostate cancer. The country at highest risk for prostate cancer is Scandinavia, and men in China are at the lowest risk in the world for developing the disease.

When Should I Start Checking?

Doctors suggest that only nine percent of men in their twenties develop prostate cancer, but, interestingly enough, many men who die of other, varied causes, show signs of prostate cancer in a posthumous examination environment. Because it can be so hard to spot, most doctors recommend that men start checking for this deadly killer by the time they reach age forty. Many suggest a prostate exam is necessary on a yearly basis.

Understanding the answer to the question ?What is prostate cancer,? is truly necessary for the complete eradication of this horrible condition.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of http://www.prostatehealthadvice.com which provides the causes of prostate cancer and treatments of everything from an enlarged prostate to prostate cancer