Uro-Pro - 60 Caps - Douglas Labs

WHAT IS THE PROSTATE?

Did you know the prostate gland is part of both the male reproductive and urinary systems? Indeed, the prostate is located inside the pelvis, below the bladder and in front of the rectum, wraps around the urethra which carries urine from the bladder, through the prostate and penis, and out of the body. Arguably the prostate's most important function is the production of a fluid that, together with sperm cells from the testicles and fluids from other glands, makes up semen.

The muscles of the prostate ensure that the semen is forcefully pressed into the urethra and expelled outward during ejaculation, as opposed to entering the bladder. Unsurprisingly, a healthy prostate is key to male fertility.

A very busy gland, the prostate is also responsible for transforming testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), so plays a central role in hormone metabolism. DHT is an androgen hormone that initiates the start of puberty in boys and allows them to develop their adult male characteristics.

Why Should Men Be Concerned With Prostate Health?

The prostate gland itself is only about the size of a walnut in younger men but may get larger as of the 40s and 50s. While science is still unsure what causes the prostate to grow, two risk factors have conclusively been associated with an enlarged prostate: age and hormone levels (more specifically estrogen to testosterone ratio.) An enlarged prostate is the most common cause of urinary problems in men as they get older and may present as a weak flow of urine, incomplete bladder emptying, difficulty starting to urinate, needing to urinate often, and urinary urgency. This condition is called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (or BPH). Another very common concern as men age is prostatitis – inflammation or infection of the prostate that results in swelling and pain and may also lead to urination problems and sexual dysfunction. Regular prostate health screening is also critical because it’s estimated that about 1 in 9 Canadian men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime and 1 in 29 will die from the disease.

Diet For A Healthy Prostate

Diet and lifestyle are truly key to optimal prostate health and can reduce your risk of developing prostate health issues. Some of the key foods to include in your diet include:
Tomatoes (especially cooked), which are rich in lycopene, a potent antioxidant that may play a role in preventing prostate cancer.

Cruciferous vegetables (such as cauliflower and broccoli) are rich in sulforaphane and indole-3 carbinol, both of which stimulate the production of antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from oxidative damage.

Wild-Caught Fish, which are rich in omega-3s, which research has shown can reduce inflammation of the prostate and decrease the risk of prostate cancer.

Green Tea is a powerful antioxidant that helps promote prostate detoxification and may relieve symptoms of prostatitis.

Legumes & Soy provide phytoestrogens. Research suggests that those who consume phytoestrogens regularly have a 20% reduced risk of prostate cancer.

Pumpkin Seeds are rich in carotenoids and zinc and may promote bladder emptying, as well as reduce inflammation.

Supplments For Prostate Health

If you’re already dealing with prostate problems, there exist effective plant extracts that have been shown to help reduce inflammation, prevent prostate enlargement, and inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. Indeed, the previously mentioned foods also exist in concentrated supplement forms such as lycopene from tomatoes, sulforaphane, and indole-3 carbinol from cruciferous vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, green tea extract, soy isoflavones, and pumpkin seed extract. The biggest advantage of consuming prostate-friendly compounds in supplement form is how much you'll be getting per serving versus food.

Another important supplement for prostate health is Saw Palmetto berry extract which is often recommended by health care practitioners to treat BHP, or an enlarged prostate, to restore urinary function, as well as boost libido and improve fertility in men.