Natural BPH Treatment through Diet - Food List
for Enlarged Prostate
When dealing with enlarged prostate symptoms, you need help
alleviated the pain and discomfort of
benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Although this BPH diet is not a
cure for an enlarged prostate, following these food guidelines can
help you create a healthy, natural BPH treatment.
For a printer-friendly copy of
this enlarged prostate healthy diet, click on the link below.
As I struggled with my own enlarged prostate symptoms, I started
tracking foods in my diet and if they affected how I felt. By doing
this, I was able to find patterns and create my own natural BPH
treatment through diet. My BPH diet does not include foods to eat -
it highlights foods that can trigger symptoms of an enlarged
prostate. I have developed the following list of foods to avoid and
those to consume with caution by trial and error experimentation and
personal research. Everyone may not have the same degree of reaction
to those listed, but I firmly believe that everyone will be somewhat
affected.
There are other sources for finding foods that contain tyramines. In
the 1950’s, a class of drugs was invented to treat depression and
Parkinson’s disease. These monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)
interact with tyramine and can cause a rapid and potentially
life-threatening rise in blood pressure. Given the gravity of this
interaction, it is crucial that patients taking MAOI avoid foods and
drinks that contain tyramines. Therefore, many lists of foods
containing tyramines have been published and are easily found on the
internet.
Foods to Avoid: Could Cause a Strong Reaction
There are some foods that I discovered through my BPH diet tracking
that caused a strong reaction or flare-up of my
enlarged prostate symptoms.These foods may contain tyramines,
vaso-active amines, and/or MSG. I recommend avoiding these foods.
Dairy
Avoid the following dairy products that can act as BPH symptom
triggers:
• Ripened & aged cheeses
- Blue-veined such as Roquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola, Oregon blue,
Maytag blue and French Bleus
- Aged Cheddar, Swiss, Edam and Gouda
Fruits
Probable BPH symptom catalysts to avoid in your diet include:
• Yellow cherries (Rainier & Queen Anne)
• Citrus (particularly orange juice)
• Watermelon
• Bananas (especially the white inside of the peel)
• Plums (red)
• Pineapple
Vegetables
The following vegetables should be avoided to reduce the occurrence
of enlarged prostate symptoms:
• Squash family (Zucchini)
• Acorn
• Broad Beans
• Tomatoes
• White Corn (Silver Queen)
Fermented Foods
The following fermented foods are probable BPH symptom stimulants:
• Sauerkraut
• Pickled Herring
Protein
Although you can have meats when following my natural BPH treatment
diet, the following proteins should be avoided:
• Aged beef
• Aged game
• Dried salted fish
• Sausage, pepperoni, salami, bologna & similar meats
Beverages
Beverages, especially caffeinated beverages and wines, can also
cause flare-ups of enlarged prostate symptoms. Be sure to avoid
these beverages when trying to naturally reduce of benign prostatic
hyperplasia symptoms:
• Red wine (especially Chianti)
• Aged wines (especially Port)
• Coffee
• Soft Drinks (especially caffeinated varieties, such as Red Bull
and colas)
• Tea (green and black)
Soups
BPH symptoms may also be aggravated by soups.
• All soups should be avoided as they may contain protein extracts.
• Miso soup is made from fermented soy bean curd and should be
avoided.
Miscellaneous Food and Sauces
Soy-based products, various sauces, and other miscellaneous foods
may also produce BPH symptoms and should be avoided in your diet,
including:
• Reduction sauces
• Soy sauce & teriyaki sauce
• Soy-based foods (especially tofu & other fermented soy products)
• Seaweed products
• Worcestershire sauce
• Shrimp paste
Diet Supplements
Foods and beverages are not the only possible triggers in your diet.
The following dietary supplements should also be avoided:
• Ginseng
• St. John’s Wort
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
• Protein extracts & protein dietary supplements
Medications
Medications that you would typically use to relieve other health
issues could actually aggravate enlarged prostate symptoms and
should be avoided, including:
• Cold or sinus medications that contain decongestants or
anti-histamines
• Asthma drugs (esp. inhalers)
• Allergy and hay fever drugs
• Seratonin
Foods to Consume with Caution: Could Cause a Moderate Reaction
During my research and personal tracking, I discovered additional
foods that may aggravate BPH symptoms, but to a lesser degree than
the above foods. The foods below should be avoided - or at least
eaten with caution - when supplementing your BPH therapy with
natural treatment methods.
Dairy
Although these foods may not affect you as adversely as the cheeses
listed in the section above, you may wish to remove - or at least
limit - the following dairy products from your diet to avoid
prostate enlargement symptoms:
• Yogurt
• Unripened cheese
• Cottage
• Cream cheese
• Sour cream
Fruits
The following fruits may cause a moderate adverse reaction (increase
in BPH symptoms) if consumed regularly in your diet:
• Red cherries (Bing)
• Mango
• Red & purple grapes
Vegetables
Vegetables that may trigger symptoms of an enlarged prostate
include:
• Avocados
• Yellow corn (Golden Bantam)
• Peas
Fermented Foods
To avoid possible prostate aggravation, your diet should not
include:
• Pickles
Protein
Fresh meats are typically a part of a prostate-friendly healthy
diet, however, you may want to avoid:
• Sausage
• Fish & meats that are not fresh
Beverages
Some beverages to avoid, helping prevent BPH symptoms, include:
• Beer
• Lemonade
• Cocoa
Miscellaneous Food and Sauces
The following miscellaneous foods can also cause enlarged prostate
symptoms to flare and should be minimized in your diet:
• Chocolate (especially dark)
• Canned broth & stock (may contain protein extracts & MSG)
• Salad dressings that contain MSG or protein isolates or whey (most
white colored manufactured dressings such as “ranch” contain MSG)
Vitamin C
The Boston Area Community Health Survey included 1,500 men aged 30
to 79. Those who took supplements with high doses of vitamin C (at
least 250 milligrams a day) were 83 percent more likely to
experience urgency, frequency or an intermittent, weak urine stream
than those who took no vitamin C supplements. (J. Nutrition 141:
267, 2011)
Avoid Enlarged Prostate Symptoms with Healthy Diet
As mentioned previously, a healthy diet cannot cure an enlarged
prostate; however, avoiding certain foods in your diet can act as a
natural BPH treatment - reducing the outbreaks of painful symptoms
of prostate enlargement. This healthy diet for enlarged prostates
should complement the medical treatments you receive. Always consult
your doctor if you are suffering from symptoms of an enlarged
prostate.
