Prostate problems tend to affect men as they get older, with statistics demonstrating one in three British men over the age of 50 are affected. Problems with the prostate can include urinary problems, like needing to pee more often, which is often triggered by an enlarged prostate. To help keep your prostate healthy, diet changes are recommended – in particular drinking green tea.
“Want an easy way to look after your prostate? Try drinking green tea every day,” says Holland & Barrett.
It adds: “The benefits of green tea are multiple, and it’s rich in polyphenols that are thought to be important for prostate health.
“Polyphenols are chemical that occur naturally in certain fruit and veg – including berries, citrus fruits, apples, broccoli, tea, coffee and chocolate – which have been shown to have an an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect on the body.”
The high street health stores goes on to explain that how polyphenols support prostate health, saying the prostate is thought to absorb polyphenols more easily than other parts of the body, making it more receptive to their health-giving benefits.
It cites: “A 2006 study published in The Journal of Nutrition reported that tea polyphenols were found in the prostates of men who had been drinking green or black tea.”
And green tea is also believed to help with an enlarged prostate and to support prostatitis.
It adds: “As you age, you may encounter prostate problems, as your prostate can grow and press on the urethra, causing urinary issues.
“This condition is called an enlarged prostate or, in medical terms, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It’s very common in men aged over 50.
But green tea is rich in a particular type of polyphenols called catechins that are thought to help an enlarged prostate, in particular the potent epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).
“A 2017 study published in Life Sciences found that EGCG reduced the over-production of cells which happens during the development of an enlarged prostate.
“Chronic prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate gland, is another prostate condition that could be soothed by a polyphenol in green tea – this time the bioflavonoid quercetin.
“A study published in 1999 in Urology found that around two thirds of men with prostate problems like chronic prostatitis who took quercetin every day saw their symptoms improve by at least 25 per cent.”
Green tea is also available in supplement form if you’d prefer not to drink it.
Pycnogenol supplements have also been found to help maintain prostate health.
A study published in Minerva Medica has found that daily supplementation with the natural French maritime pine bark extract, commonly known as Pycnogenol, can reduce symptoms related to enlarged prostate within just 60 days.
It should be noted that you should check with your GP before trying any remedies for prostate conditions.