Eat These Foods to Shrink an Enlarged Prostate (Especially Over Age 50)

Dr. Eric Berg DC

255,814 views • 12 days ago

Video Summary

This discussion focuses on natural strategies to address prostate enlargement, a common issue for men over 50 where the prostate can grow significantly larger than its normal walnut size, potentially impacting bladder function and leading to frequent urination, especially at night. While prostate issues are a common cause, other factors like polyuria, diabetes, excessive fluid intake before bed, alcohol, caffeine, certain medications, sleep apnea, and hormonal imbalances (DHT, estrogen, insulin resistance) can also contribute to frequent urination. The presentation highlights key nutrients and foods that can support prostate health, including omega-3 rich salmon, nitric oxide-boosting arugula and beets, DHT-inhibiting pumpkin seeds and green tea, and lycopene-rich tomatoes. It emphasizes the importance of vitamin D and magnesium for prostate growth regulation and inflammation control, recommending specific forms and dosages. The conversation also delves into dietary culprits like excess carbohydrates, sweets, starches, seed oils, alcohol, milk, soda, fried foods, and artificial sweeteners that exacerbate insulin resistance and prostate issues.

A particularly interesting fact revealed is that while testosterone levels typically decrease with age, the more potent form, DHT, may not significantly increase but rather becomes more active, contributing to prostate enlargement. The presentation advocates for a low-carbohydrate diet and addresses the timing of food and fluid intake, suggesting that late-night snacking and consuming large amounts of water or watermelon close to bedtime can be detrimental

Short Highlights

Prostate enlargement affects over 50% of men over 50, potentially growing from walnut to orange size, causing bladder pressure and frequent urination (up to 10 times nightly).
Frequent urination can also stem from polyuria due to type two diabetes, pre-diabetes, excessive fluid intake before bed, alcohol, caffeine, diuretics, and sleep apnea.
Key nutrients for prostate health include Vitamin D (recommendation of 20,000 IUs daily) and Magnesium (specifically magnesium glycinate, 350-600mg), which combat inflammation, calcification, and regulate growth.
Beneficial foods include salmon (omega-3), arugula and beets (nitric oxide), pumpkin seeds (DHT reduction), dark chocolate (polyphenols), green tea (DHT reduction), tomatoes (lycopene), and cod liver oil (omega-3, vitamins A & D).
Foods to avoid that contribute to insulin resistance and prostate issues include sweets, starches, seed oils, alcohol, commercial milk, soda, fried foods, and artificial sw

Key Details

Understanding Prostate Enlargement and Urination Frequency [00:00]

Over 50% of men reach age 50 with an enlarged prostate, which can grow significantly in size, impacting bladder capacity and leading to frequent urination, particularly at night.
Severe cases can involve waking up to urinate 10 times a night, severely disrupting sleep, increasing stress, decreasing mood, and affecting cognitive function.
It's crucial to differentiate prostate enlargement from polyuria, a condition of frequent urination that can occur independently, often linked to type two diabetes or pre-diabetic states due to high carbohydrate intake.

The prostate should be the size of a walnut, but it can grow to be the size of an orange.

Factors Contributing to Frequent Urination [01:33]

High carbohydrate intake can lead to excessive sugar in the body, prompting the body to excrete it through urine, causing fluid loss.
Drinking large amounts of water, especially before bed, can increase nighttime urination; increasing salt intake earlier in the day is recommended to help retain fluids.
Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics that can significantly increase urination frequency at night.
Certain medications, particularly diuretics, can also cause this symptom.
Sleep apnea can increase urine output by triggering hormones that lead to more urination.

Alcohol will definitely increase your urination through the night.

Hormonal Influences and Natural Inhibitors of DHT [03:35]

Enlarged prostates are often treated with medications that inhibit DHT, a potent form of testosterone linked to prostate growth and hair loss.
Paradoxically, testosterone levels decrease with age while the prostate enlarges; DHT does not necessarily increase but may become more active.
Natural compounds like saw palmetto, milk thistle, and stinging nettle root act as five-alpha reductase inhibitors, naturally reducing DHT with fewer side effects.
Pumpkin seed oil is also effective in decreasing the enzyme responsible for producing DHT.

As we get older, our prostate enlarges, but our testosterone goes down, right?

Vitamin D and Magnesium's Role in Prostate Health [04:51]

The prostate has vitamin D receptors, suggesting vitamin D plays a role in regulating its growth and preventing excessive enlargement.
Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to prostate growth and inflammation, potentially leading to scar tissue and fibrosis.
A high daily intake of vitamin D3, such as 20,000 IUs, is recommended to effectively penetrate barriers and combat deficiency, which is common with age.
Magnesium is essential for vitamin D to function and helps control smooth muscle, preventing calcification in the prostate.
Magnesium glycinate is recommended over magnesium oxide due to its much higher absorption rate (80% vs. 3%).

Vitamin D won't work without magnesium.

Insulin Resistance and Its Impact on Prostate Growth [07:23]

Insulin resistance is a common issue that increases with age and acts as a potent growth hormone, stimulating prostate growth.
Excessive insulin, often linked to being overweight or having belly fat, floods the prostate and triggers IGF-1, further promoting inflammation and growth.
Insulin production is triggered not only by carbohydrates but also by the frequency of eating, making late-night snacking particularly detrimental.

These snacks between meals, especially late night snacking, is deadly on this prostate.

Foods That Support Prostate Health [08:33]

A low-carbohydrate diet focusing on meat, eggs, and vegetables is recommended.
Salmon, particularly wild-caught, is beneficial due to its anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.
Arugula and beets are rich in nitric oxide, which acts as a vasodilator and aids in full urine expulsion.
Pumpkin seeds are highlighted for their ability to lower DHT levels.
Dark chocolate, with minimal sugar and high polyphenol content, also increases nitric oxide and contains magnesium that can bind to oxalates.
Green tea is noted for decreasing DHT.
Tomatoes and tomato paste are rich in lycopene, known to support prostate health and potentially lower the risk of prostate cancer.
Cod liver oil offers a combination of omega-3, vitamin D, and vitamin A.
Apple cider vinegar before meals helps regulate blood sugar and address insulin resistance.
Watermelon can increase nitric oxide and contains electrolytes, but should be consumed earlier in the day.

Chocolate has polyphenols that increase nitric oxide.

Foods and Habits to Avoid for Prostate Health [11:22]

Sweets, starches (bread, pasta, cereal, crackers), and seed oils are major contributors to insulin resistance.
Alcohol, commercial milk (due to hormones), soda (sugar water), fried foods, and artificial sweeteners can exacerbate prostate issues and inflammation.
Consuming large quantities of water or watermelon right before bed can lead to nighttime urination.