As an older male and licensed practitioner, I find it odd on how little time and energy is directed to men’s prostate health.

During the summer months, it seems every medical condition in the universe is represented in the media. From diabetes, cancer, and breast awareness. Somehow, us older guys are left to fend for ourselves. This is somewhat strange when you consider by age 60, 50% of all men have some prostate involvement.  Additionally, by age 85 that number increases to over 90 %. Many of these cases will eventually develop into cancer if not treated properly.

Traditional medicines have only limited success and the treatments can be invasive. The alpha blocker drugs such as Flomax and Proscar don’t reduce the size of the prostate but are only effective in removing symptoms. Surgery is also an option but presents a host of complications including loss of bladder control and symptoms of ED. So let’s not go there fellas if we don’t have to.  Instead, this is one time we all need to step up to the plate and do our own due diligence ahead of time.

Fortunately, integrative and holistic medicine can open up a host of options:

1. Get your diet under control

In studies by the Mayo clinic, it was demonstrated that individuals with poor fat intolerance were more likely to develop symptoms of Benign Prostate Hypertrophy ( BPH ) You need to get a good source of fats such as flax seed, sesame oil and pumpkin seeds but you also need to be able to digest them properly. So watch the fats but also adding in a digestive enzyme to your meal such as lipase would be of immense help.

2. Exercise

If you’re a couch potato all day or hunch over your computer putting strain on your lower abdomen that’s not a good idea for your prostate health. There are options:

• Get out and walk
• Go for a run
• Drag that bicycle out of the basement for some summer fun
• Tai Qi is a passive form of the martial arts that’s taught widespread at health clubs. It is especially useful in preventing BPH and getting the lymph and body’s energy moving again through that stagnant area.

3. Cut back on soft drinks and coffee

Both of these can have a diuretic effect and can further stress the urinary system. Instead, drink green tea. Japanese men have the lowest incident of prostate cancer in the world and there’s a reason. One the lack of meat and saturated fats in their diet and the healing power of the antioxidants of green tea. This is often drunk in the workplace instead of coffee and has a healing effect on the bladder and the prostate.

4. Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture has shown to be effective for the symptoms of BHP. A big advantage here is the treatment is customizable. Each treatment is based on the individual. Treatments tend to run about an hour in length and results are often found after six sessions.

5. Proper mineral/vitamin balance

This is also important and ingesting the right herbs such as saw palmetto, stinging Needles with high doses of Vitamin C and Zinc are useful.

Chances are that if you improve your diet and lifestyle you’ll make changes to your prostate health and overall will feel better.