The Prostate & Nutrition
Men who suffer from CPPS find that certain food or beverages will exacerbate the condition. Whilst there is no definitive list and this varies male by male, the main culprits include:
Alcohol Beverages
A number of studies looking at prostatitis have found that there is a strong correlation with alcohol, with the intake of red and white wine, beer and champagne increasing the likelihood of prostatitis.
Coffee
Both decaffeinated and caffeinated coffee can increase voiding symptoms, including delayed urination, difficult urination and increase the urge to urinate.
Hot & Spicy Food
No surprisingly, hot and spicy food can significantly increase CPPS. The worse culprits being spicy foods and chilli, followed by Mexican dishes. Indian and Thai can still cause problems but affect fewer people. Condiments like horseradish also have an aggravating effect. Typical symptoms include irregular bowel function, abdominal and chronic constipation, swelling and slow digestions and incidents of diarrhoea.
Binge Eating
Binge eating and excess carbohydrate intake and increased milk, cheese and associated products all worsen symptoms of CPPS, whereas more fruit and vegetables seem to improve symptoms.
Recommended Diet to Help The Prostate
Sufferers of CPPS are advised to follow a balanced diet of 50% carbohydrates, 30% fats and 20% proteins and increase their consumption of fruits, vegetables and food containing natural fibre like spinach. It is also advised to reduce coffee and tea and replace with water and herbal teas.
Other Recommendations
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats is thought by many researchers to protect the prostate and specific foods known to benefit the prostate include:
Citrus: Oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits all contain large amounts of vitamin C, which may help to protect the prostate gland.
Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are all excellent sources of antioxidants and which help remove free radicals from the body. Free radicals are the by-products of reactions that occur within the body and can cause damage and disease over time.
Broccoli: Broccoli along with other cruciferous vegetables, such as bok choy, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage, contain a chemical known as sulforaphane. Some research shows that these help to target cancer cells and promote a healthy prostate.
Nuts: Nuts are rich in zinc, a trace mineral. Zinc is found in high concentrations in the prostate and is thought to help balance testosterone and DHT. Besides nuts, shellfish and legumes – for example, peas and lentils – are also high in zinc.
Salmon: Salmon is rich in healthy fats that contain omega-3 fatty acids. These help prevent and reduce inflammation. Other cold-water fish, such as sardines and trout, are also rich in these healthy fats.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that may benefit prostate gland cells. When you cook tomatoes, for instance for a tomato sauce or soup, the cooking helps to release the lycopene and make it more easily available to the body.
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