If you haven't yet considered the health benefits of turmeric, a colorful spice commonly found in kitchens across the globe for prostate health, you may want to take another look. This spice has been used faithfully for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicinal practices as a rejuvenating, preventative and curative tonic. More recently, studies have shown that turmeric delivers positive benefits for prostate health along with a variety of other important well-being issues.
What Is the Prostate Gland?
The prostate gland is part of a man's reproductive system. This walnut-sized gland is found directly below the bladder. It forms around the urethra and sits in front of the rectum. The prostate is known to swell in size as a man ages naturally. By the age of 50, many men are already noticing signs of this inflammation. Urinating becomes more difficult with dribbling likely to occur along with nightly visits to the bathroom.
Medical Issues Related to the Prostate
As a man ages, he may experience more problematic issues with his prostate. The most commonly diagnosed issues include prostatitis, enlarged prostate, and prostate cancer. Since each of these conditions are aggravated by inflammation, it makes good sense to do what you can to alleviate any swelling associated with the prostate.
While prostatitis generally occurs in younger men, it can occur at any age. Although the exact cause varies from one individual to the next, a bacterial infection is often diagnosed. Antibiotics can help alleviate this condition. Some men may develop chronic prostatitis, leading to months of pain and/or difficulty urinating.
An enlarged prostate is something that most older men develop after the age of fifty. Common solutions typically involve medications, minor in-office procedures, and surgery. All of these options often lead to unpleasant side effects.
According to a source at the U.S. National Library of Medicine, approximately one in five men will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer in their lifetime. It is the most common form of cancer affecting men of all races. While mortality rates differ across race, studies show that these percentages are beginning to stabilize while also coming down in population percentages.
Symptoms That Your Prostate May Be Enlarged
As the prostate becomes larger in size, it may partially block the uretha, which is the tube that facilitates the flow of urine from the bladder. This condition may also lead to difficulty achieving an erection or performing sexually. Here is a look at the most common side effects of an enlarged prostate, prostatitis, and prostate cancer:
- Weak urine flow
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty in starting to urinate
- Difficulty in emptying the bladder
- Sudden urges to urinate
How Turmeric Benefits the Prostate Gland
Turmeric Curcumin offers anti-inflammatory capabilities that help to minimize the effects of aging on a man's prostate. As you've already learned, the natural aging process begins to increase the size of a man's prostate significantly after the age of 50. The anti-inflammatory properties of the curcumin alleviates the body's natural response to do so, minimizing the discomfort associated with this medical issue.
Studies Involving the Benefits of Turmeric for Prostate Health
Supporting prostate health is important at any age, but even more so for older men who are already showing signs of enlarged prostate, prostatitis, or prostate cancer. The phytochemicals contained in turmeric work together to induce anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses within the body. More than five thousand studies have investigated the therapeutic and preventive capabilities of turmeric, discovering over 600 benefits exist. These studies also show that curcumin is not easily digested by the body, often requiring taking turmeric in high-quality supplemental form to achieve greater benefits than ingesting the spice.
The results of one study published in 2012 on the therapeutic role of curcumin in treating chronic prostatitis showed promising results. These beneficial changes seemed to optimize the results achieved by taking prescribed antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection accompanying this condition.
Studies indicate that curcumin offers chemopreventive qualities, effectively changing the progression of cancer cells in the prostate. More specifically, curcumin has the ability to influence cell activity in such a way that the cancer stopped growing. Since prostate-gland inflammation increases the likelihood of developing this form of cancer, the anti-inflammatory capabilities provide a natural remedy with no attached side effects.
A study conducted by researchers at Rutgers University provided evidence that turmeric offers a high potential for reducing the size of cancer tumors found in the prostate. Other studies suggest that curcumin is also beneficial in preventing the growth of new prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, existing statistics show the incidence of this cancer in men living in India, where turmeric is commonly included in daily diets, is considerably lower than that found in other countries.
Another study conducted in 2015 provided evidence that curcumin reduces the instance of cell signaling, minimizing the ability to produce new cancer cells. Even yet another research project discovered curcumin may prevent cancer-related fibroblasts from growing. The fibers making up the fibroblasts lose their ability to produce new fibers that may be partially responsible for the development of prostate cancer.
Since curcumin offers radiosensitizing capabilities, it enhances the susceptibility of cancer cells to radiation treatment, making it more likely for this procedure to be successful. The radioprotective capabilities of curcumin assist in keeping healthy prostate cells safe from potential damage caused by radiation therapy.
The curcumin found in a high-quality turmeric supplement targets inflammation, minimizing it significantly. If you add turmeric to your daily diet to boost your prostate's well-being, you improve your health in so many ways that it clearly makes sense to look into its benefits. A published study researching the effect of turmeric on an enlarge prostate found that men taking turmeric experienced an improvement in their incontinence as well as a decrease in urinary tract infections.
Turmeric Avoids the Side Effects of OTC Pain Medication
When you are experiencing pain due to an enlarged or inflamed prostate, you may find yourself reaching for over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medication. While you may obtain temporary relief, it is possible that a variety of side effects, including ulcers, kidney damage, indigestion, and bleeding in the stomach, may also occur due to your use of pain relievers. Treating your pain through the use of high-quality turmeric supplements, on the other hand, avoids each of these unwanted complications.
Whether or not you are already experiencing issues with your prostate, you may want to give it a beneficial boost that enhances its biological functionality, while improving your ability to perform sexually. If you include turmeric in your dietary intake, not only can you enhance your prostate's condition, but you may also derive beneficial changes in other areas of your well-being, including mood stability, blood sugar levels, and heart health.