Make Prostate Health A Priority

Contrary to popular belief, prostate health should be a priority for men of all ages. While many prostate disorders tend to affect men in their 40s and older, the time to be proactive in supporting prostate health is now.

What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

Prostate enlargement is an inevitable part of the male aging process, and is particularly common in men over the age of 50.  Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) occurs when the cells of the prostate gland begin to multiply, causing the gland to swell. The exact cause of BPH is unknown, but researchers have suggested that age-related changes in male sex hormones may be a contributing factor to prostate enlargement. A family history of prostate abnormalities may also increase the risk of BPH-related health issues.

TRANSCEND Step 1: Talk to Your Doctor

Symptoms associated with BPH are often mild at first, but can become more serious if not promptly addressed. Scheduling regular check-ups and assessments with your physician are critical in supporting optimal prostate health and preventing serious complications from BPH before they occur.

TRANSCEND Step 3: Assessment

Common symptoms of BPH include:

• Incomplete bladder emptying, and weak urinary stream
• Nocturia, or the need to urinate two or more times per night
• Incontinence, leakage of urine, and dribbling at the end of your urinary stream
• Painful urination, or the need to strain during urination
• Presence of blood in the urine

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. There are several treatments that will alleviate the discomfort and inconvenience of these symptoms. Early treatment of BPH symptoms can help to prevent more serious complications in the future.

5 Tips for Keeping Your Prostate Healthy:

1. Focus on proper nutrition and staying hydrated
Proper nutrition is your first line of defense against prostate disease. Maximize your intake of fruits and vegetables, limit your consumption of “bad fats” (or avoid them entirely), and choose plant-based proteins over red meat. This can help reduce your risk of BPH-related health issues.

Staying hydrated is also important for maintaining prostate health. Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary beverages to help flush out toxins in the urinary tract that can lead to prostatitis and inflammation.

2. Manage stress
While not a direct cause of prostate disease, high levels of stress have been shown to weaken immunity and alter hormonal balance. Routine stress management exercises will help to keep your brain and body functioning optimally.

3. Avoid exposure to toxins
Exposure to toxins can lead to health complications at a cellular level. While it is impossible to completely avoid chemicals and substances that could cause abnormal cell growth, you can reduce your exposure to toxins by doing the following:

• Choose organic foods whenever possible. This will reduce your exposure to pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones.
  
  
• Avoid/minimize consumption of charred, processed and well-done proteins. Limit your exposure to cancer-causing heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
  
  
• Limit exposure to Bisphenol-A, an synthetic compound commonly found in plastics. Instead, use food containers made from glass, stainless steel or materials marked “BPA-free.”
  
  
• Stay away from products that may contain phthalates, an endocrine-disrupting chemical. Phthalates are found in many polyvinyl chloride products, such as cling wrap, building materials, shampoos, lotions and cosmetics.

TRANSCEND Step 9: Detoxification

4. Manage hormone balance
Your hormone levels play a major part in supporting healthy prostate function. Age-related changes in sex hormones have been shown to contribute to prostate disease. As men age, their testosterone levels decline, while dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estrogen levels increase. DHT stimulates cell growth, and contributes to prostate enlargement, while estrogen inhibits DHT elimination, further amplifying the effect. 

5. Make Prostate Support part of your supplement routine
There are many supplements available that may benefit the prostate. They may help support healthy urinary function, regulate hormone levels, and reduce inflammation.

TRANSCEND Step 5: Supplementation

Saw Palmetto is a small shrub native to the southeastern United States. Its berries have been used by Native American Indians for centuries to maintain healthy urinary function. When taken as a supplement, saw palmetto helps to block the enzymes responsible for converting testosterone into DHT. TRANSCEND’s Prostate Support formula combines this powerful ingredient with other vitamins, herbs and minerals that work together to support optimal prostate health.

Read the TRANSCEND Research Review on Vitamins + Prostate Health

The “C Word”: When Prostate Enlargement is No Longer Benign

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men in the United States, with skin cancer being the first. Around one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, with 60% of new cases occurring in men over the age of 65.

Even though prostate cancer is a serious disease, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer will not die from it. There is no way to completely prevent prostate cancer, but taking a proactive approach to prostate health can significantly reduce your risk.

Prostate Cancer FAQs

Is prostate cancer genetic?
While your genetics do not guarantee that you will or will not develop prostate cancer, they may play a part. A family history of prostate-related health issues means that your risk of developing the disease is higher than someone without the same history.

Does obesity increase the risk of prostate cancer?
Researchers have made a connection between obesity and increased cancer risk, though this is not limited to prostate cancer. Diet and exercise are both important factors in supporting prostate health. Certain supplements may also help to reduce BPH-related symptoms.

Interestingly, the number of reported prostate cancer cases for Japanese and Chinese men is significantly lower than in other populations. Some researchers have suggested that this may have something to do with the amount of green tea these men consume.

Green tea is rich in polyphenols and has strong antioxidant properties. TRANSCEND®’s Green Tea Extract contains a concentrated combination of Green Tea and ECGC (epigallocatechin-3-gallate). Together, these can support healthy immune systems and T-Cell activity in lymph nodes.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
In order to rule out prostate cancer, your doctor will likely conduct a test to measure the level of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) in your bloodstream. Elevated PSA may be an indicator of cancerous cells in the prostate.

A Proactive Approach to Prostate Health

All men, regardless of age, should consider prostate health  a top priority for a longer, healthier life. Being proactive about prostate health will not only work to alleviate BPH-related symptoms—it will also help reduce your chances of developing more serious conditions in the future.