Statistics show that 50% of men over age 40 experience problems with their prostate. One in 11 American men over age 50 will develop prostate cancer. By the time they are 70, over 60% of American men will have an enlarged prostate gland (BPH). At age 80, the number goes up to 85%. Symptoms of BPH include dribbling, frequent or difficult urination, decrease in urine stream and chronic discomfort in the pelvic area.

This amounts to an epidemic of prostate problems. High fat diet and excessive estrogen in the environment (plastics & pesticides) may be the biggest culprits. Nutritional deficiencies (zinc, selenium) also play a role. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone synthesized from testosterone that is thought to contribute to prostate enlargement. Among Japanese men who traditionally eat a diet low in fat and high in soy products, prostate problems are rare. However a study of men who moved to Hawaii and began eating a high-fat American diet showed that they had prostate problems at the same rate as Americans.

What "Modern" medicine has to offer you if you have prostate enlargement are drugs and surgery that are only sometimes effective and often have side effects such as impotence, urinary dysfunction (for surgery, these side effects are permanent), decreased libido, breast enlargement and expense ($2/pill for Proscar). Natural approach to a healthy prostate gland is preferable if you are a man over the age of 50.

"Uni-Pros-Trol" is a special formula for optimizing a healthy functioning prostate gland.

• Saw palmetto berry has become the leading natural treatment for BPH. Numerous studies have yielded positive data regarding its clinical efficacy in decreasing the severity of symptoms associated with prostate changes. Saw palmetto appears to inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to its more active form, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Saw palmetto also blocks DHT from binding in the prostate. Studies have used 320 mg per day of saw palmetto extract that is standardized to contain approximately 80 to 95% fatty acids. At least seven double-blind studies involving a total of about 500 people have compared the benefits of saw palmetto against placebo over a period of 1 to 3 months. In these studies, the herb significantly improved urinary flow rate and most other measures of prostate disease. A double-blind study followed 1,098 men who received either saw palmetto or the drug Proscar over a period of 6 months (unfortunately, there was no placebo group). The treatments were equally effective, but while Proscar lowered PSA levels and caused a slight worsening of sexual function on average, saw palmetto caused no significant side effects.
• Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) may increase urinary volume and the maximum flow rate of urine in men with early-stage BPH. It has been successfully combined with both saw palmetto and pygeum to treat BPH in double-blind trials. An appropriate amount appears to be 120 mg twice per day.
• Pygeurn Africanum has been approved in Germany, France, and Italy as a remedy for BPH. Controlled studies published over the past 25 years have shown that pygeum is safe and effective for men with BPH of mild or moderate severity. These studies have used 50 to 100 mg of pygeum extract (standardized to contain 13% total sterols) twice per day. This herb contains three compounds that may help the prostate: pentacyclic triterpenoids, which have a diuretic action; phytosterols, which have anti-inflammatory activity; and ferulic esters, which help rid the prostate of any cholesterol deposits that accompany BPH.
• Extracts of Nettle root and leaf as well as extracts of Pygeurn Africanum have also been shown to decrease the severity of these symptoms. Both of these herbs appear to inhibit the growth and proliferation of prostatic cells.
• Beta-sitosterol, a compound found in many edible plants, has also been found to be helpful for men with BPH. In one double-blind trial, 200 men with BPH received 20 mg of beta-sitosterol three times a day or a placebo for six months. Men receiving beta-sitosterol had a significant improvement in urinary flow and an improvement in symptoms, whereas no change was reported in men receiving the placebo. Another double-blind study reported similarly positive results using 130 mg per day of beta-sitosterol.
• Phytosterols, such as those found in extracts of pumpkin seeds have demonstrated positive effects on urine flow, and frequency of urination. Pumpkin seed oil has been used in combination with saw palmetto in two double-blind human studies to effectively reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Animal studies have shown that pumpkin seed extracts may improve the function of the bladder and urethra; this might partially account for BPH symptom relief.
• Prostatic secretions are known to contain a high concentration of zinc. Zinc accumulates in the muitochondria of prostate cells and effects the oxidation of citric acid. This in turn effects the Krchs cycle and the ability of the cell to produce energy. It is believed that this decrease in the prostate's ability to produce energy can lead to an inhibition of proliferation. Zinc may decrease prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels which in turn can affect the proliferation of prostate tissues. In one preliminary study, 19 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia took 150 mg of zinc daily for two months, and then 50 to 100 mg daily. In 74% of the men, the prostate became smaller.
• In a controlled trial, men with BPH received a supplement containing three amino acids (glycine, alanine, and glutamic acid). After three months, about half of these men reported reduced urgency, frequency, and/or less delay starting urine flow, compared to 15% or less of the men who received a placebo. Another similar controlled trial of this combination also reported positive results. It is believed that these amino acids reduce the amount of swelling in prostate tissue.
• Nutrients such as vitamin B6. selenium, vitamin E. lycopene also play an important role in maintaining proper prostate function.

4. Always do the Basic

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Dr. Tsang wishes to share his knowledge & Opinion with the public regarding the importance of " Nutritional Supplements ". This is for your information only. He is not in any way try to replace your physician. Drugs have powerful effects on the body, so please don't abruptly stop taking any prescription medication. Always consult your physician or health care provider before you use any nutritional supplement or switch from drugs to natural health products.