If you have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), following a diet for enlarged prostate can help with symptom management. Of course, the only way to find lasting relief is to seek treatment that shrinks your prostate. But, if you're still researching treatment options, try making the following changes to your diet in order to improve your quality of life.

Key takeaways:

• Including citrus fruits and a variety of vegetables in your diet and avoiding fatty foods, alcohol and caffeine can reduce your symptom burden
  
• An enlarged prostate can only be shrunk with medical intervention
  
• Lifestyle measures such as changes to your diet and drinking habits can help you manage BPH symptoms such as urinary urgency and nocturia (waking at night to pee)

Table of Contents

1. What causes prostate enlargement
   
2. Signs and symptoms
   
3. Sample diet for enlarged prostate
   
4. Dietary benefits for other prostate conditions
   
5. Other lifestyle measures to address BPH symptoms

What Causes an Enlarged Prostate?

For many men, prostate enlargement is a natural part of the aging process. In fact, after 60, the majority of men will see some growth in this gland responsible for producing the fluid portion of semen. However, in some cases, prostate enlargement could be the result of disease or infection. As such, you should see a doctor immediately if you notice symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

BPH Symptoms

Symptoms of an enlarged prostate typically involve your lower urinary tract, and are referred to as LUTS. (Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.) They include:

• Needing to urinate frequently
• Urgency, or a sudden need to pee with little or no warning
• Difficulty stopping or starting the flow of urine
• Experiencing a weak urinary flow
• An inability to fully empty the bladder with urination (urinary retention)
• Nocturia, or waking up to pee two or more times at night resulting in sleep problems

Shrinking your enlarged prostate is the best way to resolve such symptoms. However, certain lifestyle measures, including changes to your diet, can help you manage symptoms while you research additional treatment options.

What's the Best Diet for Enlarged Prostate?

If you're experiencing BPH symptoms such as urinary frequency and difficulty with urinary flow, one of the best ways to relieve these lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is with a medical procedure such as prostatic artery embolization procedure.

Including certain foods, while removing others, may help improve symptoms, especially those of urgency and night-time waking to urinate. Be sure to:

• Avoid high fat foods, especially fried foods, red meat and dairy products, as they promote inflammation and can interfere with your hormonal balance, possibly leading to further prostate growth
  
• Eat more and many different vegetables, including broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts that fight inflammation with antioxidants. You should also eat more tomatoes, especially cooked ones, since this helps release internal lycopene, a substance that may help shrink your prostate naturally.
  
• Add lots of citrus fruits to your daily routine, including grapefruit, tangerines and oranges, as their Vitamin C could inhibit production of the HIF-1alpha molecule, which has been linked prostate cell growth.
  
• Incorporate more lean proteins like fish. Fatty fish, especially salmon, trout, sardines, tuna and mackerel are great choices; their Omega3 fatty acids can help fight inflammation and ease your symptom burden.

Slowing Prostate Cancer Through Diet

In addition to playing a role in BPH management, new data published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows how diet can help after a prostate cancer diagnosis. UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers learned that a low omega-6, high omega-3 fatty acid diet, combined with fish oil supplements, could slow the growth of cancer cells in men with early-stage prostate cancer.

Dr. William Aronson, the lead study author, said, “Many men are interested in lifestyle changes, including diet, to help manage their cancer and prevent the progression of their disease. Our findings suggest that something as simple as adjusting your diet could potentially slow cancer growth and extend the time before more aggressive interventions are needed." He concluded, “This is an important step toward understanding how diet can potentially influence prostate cancer outcomes.”

Manage BPH with Other Lifestyle Measures

Now we've seen how diet can impact prostate health, lets look at other lifestyle measures to support prostate health. Aside from following a diet for enlarged prostate, there are other little changes you can make to relieve some of your BPH symptoms. Make sure to lose weight if you're above a healthy number, and, regardless of your weight, try exercising at a moderate to vigorous level, most days of the week.

Next, cut back on caffeine and alcohol, since both increase the need to urinate. And avoid drinking anything within a few hours of bedtime to reduce middle of the night wakings. Finally, if you're looking for more lasting relief from BPH, Click here to request an appointment at one of our three locations in the greater Atlanta area.