The root cause of an enlarged prostate or BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) is tied to hormones in most instances, but testosterone is not necessarily the main culprit. Many scientists are now concluding that insulin is predominantly to blame for an enlarged prostate. The prostate is a gland that responds to signals from growth hormones like insulin. An improper diet may lead to hyper-insulin-emia of the blood. High amounts of insulin after eating improperly can bind with an IGF-1 receptor which promotes extra growth of cells in the prostate. After too many years of an improper diet what one ends up with is far more cells in the prostate than are needed, and these cells tend to be larger than normal... all leading to an enlarged prostate which in turn squeezes on the urethra causing misery for men.
Having a low testosterone-to-estrogen ratio increases risk of having BPH symptoms. Testosterone tends to decrease as a man gets older. Contrary to conventional understanding, however, in and of itself testosterone does not cause BPH.
How to Stop the Signal that Reverses an Enlarged Prostate
Eat a diet that leads to low blood glucose levels and a normal insulin blood level as much as possible for 80% reduction in symptoms. May take months to rebalance.
Avoid All Sugar – sucrose and fructose, even from fruits
Avoid All Grains
Avoid Soy
Avoid Low-Fat Dairy
Avoid Vegetable Seed Oils
Eat a KETO/low carb diet
Intermittent Fasting for 14-16 hours to reset the insulin level
Ken D. Berry, MD
Use Lycopene to Shrink the Prostate
Based on the conventional belief that men get prostate enlargement because of the cumulative effect of testosterone on the gland, clinical treatment of BPH often centers around giving a patient the enzyme 5 alpha reductase inhibitors to prevent testosterone from being converted to dihydrotestosterone which leads to the proliferation of smooth muscle and epithelial cells that cause the prostate to increase in size. Flomax, a smooth muscle relaxant, and/or 5 alpha reductase inhibitors like Proscar and Avodart are pharmaceutical solutions typically. However, regular use of certain everyday foods can replicate the benefits of the 5 alpha reductase inhibitors, without drugs, to block testosterone conversion.
Lycopene not only blocks testosterone, but reduces inflammation to shrink the prostate and reduce the risk of cancer. Lycopene is a red pigment similar to Vitamin A and is classified as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Once ingested it gets concentrated in certain organs, including the prostate. Found in all red or pink colored fruits and vegetables, it is most concentrated in tomatoes.
Tomatoes in the diet may single-handedly prevent or relieve prostate enlargement and reduce the risks of prostate cancer. Cooking tomatoes in olive oil makes their lycopene even more bioavailable since it is lipid soluble. Just 14 mg of lycopene daily seems to be the threshold for significant benefit to the prostate. More is better, however. Personally, I eat one can of tomato paste each day along with a swig of olive oil, then supplement and eat more tomato dishes than ever before.
Watch the video above for specific recommendations and impressive studies.
Dave Clayton, MD
The PSA blood test is the screening test for prostate health. 0-4 ng/mL is considered the normal range. There are a lot of reasons why the PSA may be outside the normal range, however. Number One is infection in any of the lower abdominal organs, so the PSA test is not always the best screening tool for prostate cancer.
Second is chronic inflammation anywhere in the body which may cause the PSA to be abnormally elevated. Third is Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (growth). A bigger prostate means a higher PSA.
Surgery and radiation of prostate cancer have permanent side effects. Putting prostate cancer in context with other medical problems, the prostate cancer survival rate, untreated, for the first five years is essentially 100%. There are many degenerative conditions that may be far more threatening and must take precedence over prostate treatment.
You cannot properly interpret PSA in the absence of knowledge of testosterone levels. Testosterone may be the fuel for cancer, BUT it is not the cause. High testosterone with a rising PSA is not as concerning as low testosterone and a rising, hormone-resistant PSA. Patients with heart disease and diabetes have less blood flow to their testicles, thus lower testosterone, and thus are more likely to have aggressive versions of prostate cancer.
An MRI of the prostate is an incredibly useful diagnostic tool.
Steve Tucker, MD
What Effect Does Exercise have on PSA Testing?
Aerobic exercise that accelerates heart rate over extended periods increases inflammation and bumps up PSA for a few hours following. Cycling is toughest on the prostate for obvious reasons. Long term exercise reduces the risk of prostate cancer. An 18-year Harvard study showed that men who practiced 3 hours or more of vigorous activity per week vs men with less than one hour per week had a 50% less all-cause mortality benefit. Looking specifically at prostate cancer mortality, the benefit increased to a 61% advantage over men with less than an hour per week. Not only does vigorous regular aerobic exercise reduce mortality, but it also significantly reduces the progression of any disease. Aerobic athletes are better survivors against any degenerative disease. Intensity and duration are significant factors in survivability.
Exercise works on a variety of levels. Regular vigorous activity decreases chronic inflammation. Remember, cancer thrives in an environment of persistent elevated inflammation. Regular intense exercise decreases the bioavailable levels of Insulin Growth Factor 1 and decreases insulin resistance to create a less cancer friendly environment in the body.
Georgios Mavropalias, MD
How is Coffee Intake and Caffeine Metabolism Linked to Cancer Survival?
For those with a high consumption of coffee (considered 2 or more cups per day) studies have shown a statistically significant benefit for survival of localized cancers.
There is a certain genotype associated with fast caffeine metabolism. For those with this fast metabolism genotype, there was a statistically significant survival benefit as well. (I metabolize caffeine quickly, so must have this genotype, characterized by being able to fall asleep readily after consuming caffeine.)
2 to 3 cups of coffee per day has benefits for many of the body's organs, even if it is decaf. More than that does not carry additional benefit.
Sean Hashmi, MD
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