Natural Prostate Supplement Can Boost Prostate Health

Prostate problems end up affecting most men during their lifetimes. An estimated half of all men in their 60s and up to 90 percent of men in their 70s and 80s suffer from enlarged prostates. In addition, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in men. But there are ways to fight back, including taking a natural prostate supplement.

Age, of course, is the greatest risk factor for prostate health issues, but there are strategies men can use to prevent these problems from developing in the first place, and some of these strategies may actually help fight the conditions -- prostate enlargement and even prostate cancer -- after they have developed.

African Plum Tree Bark Extract
This extract from the bark of the tree known as pygeum africanum has been used both in Europe and the United States for the treatment of BPH, which can cause troublesome urinary symptoms when the prostate grows in size and clamps down on the urethra, disrupting the flow of urine.

A study done at the University of Missouri-Columbia found the plant extract had a beneficial effect on prostate cancer cells in experimental mice. It also was found to be effective against prostate cancer cells in vitro. The authors concluded it may be a useful supplement for people at high risk for prostate cancer. These would include those with a family history of the disease as well as African-American men.

Sang Huang Mushroom Extract
This extract of the mushroom phellinus linteus was found in a study done at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School, to slow prostate tumor growth, cause tumor cell regression and increase the death rate of tumor cells in studies in mice with the disease. The findings caused the authors to conclude that the study suggests that the extract is not only able to attenuate tumor growth, but also to cause tumor regression by inducing tumor cell growth.

White Button Mushroom Extract

The extract of this mushroom known as agaricus bisporus was found in a study by the Beckman Research Institute to both reduce both prostate tumor size and proliferation as well as increasing the death rate of tumor cells both in vitro and in mice. The authors said they support the recommendation of white button mushroom as a dietary component that may aid in the prevention of prostate cancer in men.

Diet, Exercise and Natural Supplements
Most experts say that a healthy low-fat diet and regular exercise, avoiding tobacco and keeping alcohol consumption at a moderate level are all important to maintain good prostate health.

But it now appears that prostate supplements can have a beneficial effect on the prevention and perhaps even the treatment of prostate cancer, as well as of BPH or enlarged prostate.

Among the supplements or other natural products that frequently have been used for prostate health are the mineral selenium, the antioxidant lycopene, green tea, and saw palmetto, the extract of the fruit of a fan palm tree.

A Natural Product
A healthy diet and regular exercise can help boost prostate health, but many experts suggest that a natural prostate supplement may also be of benefit in the prevention and treatment of prostate enlargement (BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia) and prostate cancer. There is evidence in test tube and animal studies that some of these products can slow prostate tumor growth, cause tumor regression and kill prostate cancer cells.

Among these are a natural prostate supplement containing botanical extracts such as sang huang mushroom, white button mushroom and African plum tree bark. All three of these ingredients may be found in specially formulated nutraceuticals (health professionals recommend Prostate-PH) designed to support healthy prostate tissue.