Prostate Health

What is the prostate, what happens to it and how we can help support it?

For more info on your prostate, check out our ‘Prostate 101’ article on the Health Hub.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a gland found only in males. It has three main functions:

• It adds fluid to semen, thinning it out and boosting the sperm’s swimming powers
• It stops urine and semen getting mixed up
• It helps metabolise testosterone into a form that the body can use more easily

Where is the prostate?

The prostate can be found wrapped around the urethra, the tube through which urine flows from the bladder to the penis.

In younger men, the prostate is about the size and shape as a walnut. However, as men age, the prostate grows to reach the size of a lemon by the age of 60.

This becomes symptomatic in about half of men.

Encouraging good prostate health

There are many simple lifestyle changes you can do at home to support prostate health.

These include:

• drinking less caffeine, fizzy drinks and alcohol
• drinking less fluid in the evenings
• emptying your bladder regularly and double voiding
• eating more fibre to avoid constipation

There are also various prostate tablets you might like to try, including the natural and herbal remedies, which may help to support good prostate health.

Just make sure to run them past your doctor first, in case they affect any other medications or conditions you may already have.

Prostate supplements       

There are several vitamins for prostate health available on the market.

Holland & Barrett Prostate support, Vitabiotics Wellman Prostace and New Nordic Prosta Vital all contain pumpkin seed which helps to maintain healthy prostate function. Pumpkin oil has been found to be good for prostates as it is rich in zinc, carotenoids and phytosterols.

Carotenoids are found in foods such as carrots, squash, leafy greens and sweet potatoes.

Saw palmetto

The saw palmetto plant has been traditionally been used by indigenous Americans.

There is some evidence to suggest saw palmetto might help with prostate problems. One study showed easing of symptoms and shrinking of the prostate.

For more information on the studies, see ‘How saw palmetto could help prostate health’ on the Health Hub.

If you are keen to give it a go, try Holland & Barrett Saw Palmetto Capsules.

This product is a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate based on traditional use only.

Other natural prostate remedies

There are various other natural options that have traditionally been used to help with fertility, testosterone and prostate problems.

Why not read more about them here:  https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-health-hub/conditions/mens-health/can-green-tea-help-your-prostate/ 

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-health-hub/conditions/mens-health/prostate/can-spice-support-prostate-health/ for their soothing properties.