An enlarged prostate is a common condition for men as they age. Symptoms include difficulty urinating, a weak stream of urine, night time urination, blood in the urine and an urgent need to urinate, the Mayo Clinic reports. Your diet can play a role in how likely you are to experience an enlarged prostate and adding specific foods to your menu may help you reduce your risk.
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe is a member of the melon family and contains many potent nutrients to help you improve your health. One of the most important vitamins is beta-carotene, Myrna Chandler Goldstein and Mark A. Goldstein report in their book, "Healthy Foods: Fact Versus Fiction." Men who consume at least one and a half cups of beta-carotene-rich foods a day, such as cantaloupe, have up to a 13 percent lower risk of experiencing the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Add cantaloupe chunks to a fruit salad or serve them as a side dish for breakfast or lunch. Carrots and sweet potatoes also contain high amounts of beta-carotene as well.
Pumpkin Seeds
Zinc is a nutrient that may help reduce your risk of an enlarged prostate. Pumpkin seeds are a source of zinc that can be incorporated into your diet on a daily basis, Dharma Singh Khalsa reports in his book, "Food as Medicine." A quarter cup of pumpkin seeds will provide as much zinc as you need to get the benefits the seeds offer. Eat them plain as a healthy snack or add them to your favorite bread recipes. Pumpkin seeds can also be added to trail mix to increase the zinc content. Sunflower seeds are also high in zinc and can complement the addition of pumpkin seeds to your diet.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain several important nutrients, including vitamin C and lycopene, that benefit your prostate health. Cooked tomatoes are the best way to get these advantages, notes Khalsa. Adding cooked tomatoes to your menu each day will help you reduce your risk of suffering from an enlarged prostate. Stir in cooked tomatoes and herbs with whole wheat pasta or add tomatoes to chili to increase the nutrient content. Raw tomatoes will still provide some benefits so add a slice to your sandwich or chop some up and add to spinach to make a nutritious salad. Watermelon is an additional source of both lycopene and vitamin C and may also reduce your risk of an enlarged prostate.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Prostate gland enlargement
- "Healthy Foods: Fact Versus Fiction"; Myrna Chandler Goldstein and Mark A. Goldstein; 2010
- "Food as Medicine"; Dharma Singh Khalsa; 2004
