10 ways to lower your PSA levels

Men are usually told they should have their PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level measured beginning between ages 40 and 50, depending on their ethnicity and family history.

Craig Cooper

Why is it recommended you have your PSA checked? An elevated PSA can be an early indication that something is not quite right with the prostate, such as the possibility of prostatitis, an enlarged prostate, or prostate cancer, while a lower PSA is a strong indication of good prostate health. However, an elevated PSA can be associated with other situations that don’t directly involve prostate health, such as a reaction to medication, a urinary tract infection, recent catheterization or ejaculation, or inflammation of the prostate associated with a sports injury or age.

In any event, it’s best to get a PSA test so you and your doctor can decide whether any action is necessary. As a general course of action, you can help ensure a healthy prostate by following certain lifestyle guidelines.

Eat more fruits, vegetables and nuts

Although several hormones have an impact on the prostate, one in particular—DHT, or dihydrotestosterone — promotes prostate inflammation and stimulates insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a hormone that can promote abnormal cell growth and cancer. Certain foods contain substances shown to naturally inhibit DHT. One of those substances is lycopene, which is found in carrots, mangoes, tomatoes, and watermelon.

A National Institutes of Health study noted that lycopene inhibits IGF-I growth in prostate cells by reducing DHT-modulated IGF-I production. Other food substances that inhibit DHT include L-lysine (in almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts), and zinc (in cashews, kale, spinach, wheat germ, white mushrooms, and supplements). Make a point to include several of the mentioned foods in your diet every day.

Add some pomegranate to your diet

Whether you enjoy pomegranate juice, the tasty pulp and seeds, or prefer the supplement, be sure to include this fruit in your diet more often. Research at Johns Hopkins has shown that this phytonutrient-rich fruit can reduce the rate of PSA doubling in men who have prostate cancer. Overall, the doubling time increased from 11.9 months at baseline to 18.5 months after treatment with pomegranate extract. Since pomegranate is rich in sugar, taking a supplement may be better than having the fruit on a regular basis.

Exercise more

Staying physically active on a regular basis can help lower your PSA levels. Aerobic activities, such as walking, running, cycling, and rowing, are encouraged as well as some resistance exercise to help strengthen and tone muscles. A highly recommended exercise approach is HIIT (high-intensity interval training), which is perfect for men who want to maximize their exercise benefits in a minimal amount of time.

A study in the Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine looked at the PSA levels and physical activity of nearly 2,000 healthy males and found that “PSA levels were significantly higher among the group with hypertension or the group of individuals that did not exercise regularly or group of office workers who were considered to have lesser physical activities.”

Lose weight

Some contradictory evidence surrounds the association between overweight and obesity and PSA. On the one hand, excess weight is associated with a greater risk of prostate cancer, prostatitis, and enlarged prostate, all conditions also associated with an elevated PSA. However, several studies point to lower PSA levels in healthy overweight and obese men, including a new study in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine. Overall however, losing weight is the more logical and healthful step for the prostate and your general health.

Take aspirin

Several studies have indicated that use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce PSA levels. A University of Arizona study, for example, found that this effect was especially significant among men who had never smoked. Before taking aspirin, however, talk to your healthcare provider about whether it is safe for you to do so and the optimal dose for you.

Eat more tomatoes

Tomatoes are an important source of the potent antioxidant lycopene, which has been shown to reduce PSA levels and lower a man’s risk of prostate cancer. Lycopene is released from tomatoes when they are cooked, so you get the most benefit from enjoying stewed tomatoes, tomato soup, tomato-based pasta sauces, and tomato juice. One caution, however: don’t eat tomatoes that have been canned, as they may have been exposed to BPA (bisphenol-A) in the lining of the can, a chemical that disrupts your endocrine system and may contribute to prostate cancer. Fresh is definitely best when it comes to this fruit.

Reduce or avoid foods that harm the prostate

You may be surprised at how many common foods irritate the prostate and can contribute to a rise in PSA levels and an enlarged prostate. Here are some of the foods and beverages that fall into this category:

• Foods that contain acrylamide, such as French fries and potato chips (the two biggest offenders) and doughnuts
• Foods rich in saturated fats
• Excess alcohol
• Nonfermented soy products such as tofu and edamame, which can raise estrogen levels
• Microwave popcorn
• Nonorganic potatoes, meats, and dairy products
• Canned foods, especially tomatoes, which are acidic and more likely to leach bisphenol A (a hormone disruptor) from the lining of the cans
• And these 8 worst foods for prostrate health.

Reduce animal protein intake

Meat, poultry, and dairy foods are typically high in protein and also trigger the release of a substance called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). When you consume a considerable amount of these high-protein foods, the body makes a lot of IGF-I and can use some of it promote cancer growth, including prostate cancer.

A study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention reported that IGF-I levels were elevated among animal protein eaters but not among plant protein consumers. In fact, eating plant protein seemed to reduce IGF-1 levels. If you do eat animal protein, be sure to choose organic products that have not been raised with antibiotics or any other hormones.

Try quercetin and pollen

Both quercetin and pollen have demonstrated properties that promote and support prostate health, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant abilities, especially in the management of the inflammatory condition known as prostatitis. In addition, a new study in Urology looked at the effect of an anti-inflammatory combination (consisting of quercetin, nimesulide, saw palmetto, and bromelain) taken daily for three months by men with PSA values of 7.2 ng/mL or 7.3 ng/mL at baseline. By the end of the study, the combination had effectively and safely reduced PSA levels from 7.3 ng/mL to 4.6 ng/mL among men who had prostate inflammation. Both quercetin and pollen can be taken separately, but they also can be found together in supplement formulas designed to support prostate health.

Follow The Prostate Diet

Men who want to help keep PSA levels low, support overall prostate health, and fight inflammation are encouraged to follow The Prostate Diet. The diet has 10 foundations which, if you follow them consistently, should reward you with a healthy prostate and overall health as well. Post them where you can refer to them until they become a habit.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, organic whenever possible
• Consume healthy fats—monounsaturated, omega-3 fatty acids
• Choose plant protein over animal protein
• Drink green tea often
• Choose whole, natural foods over refined, processed foods
• Include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., cold water fatty fish, walnuts, algae)
• Avoid or significantly limit certain foods and supplements (see “Reduce or avoid foods that harm the prostate”)
• Choose prostate cancer killing foods and supplements, such as tomatoes, green tea, and vitamin D
• Stay well hydrated with pure water
• Consider taking natural supplements that support prostate health

Sources

1. Algotar AM et al. Effect of aspirin, other NSAIDs, and statins on PSA and PSA velocity. Prostate 2010 Jun 1; 70(8): 883-88

2. Allen NE et al. The associations of diet with serum insulin-like growth factor 1 and its main binding proteins in 292 women meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 2002 Nov; 11(11): 1441-48

3. Gallo L. The effect of a pure anti-inflammatory therapy on reducing prostate-specific antigen levels in patients diagnosed with a histologic prostatitis. Urology 2016 Aug; 94:198-203

4. Kim SH et al. Serum prostate-specific antigen levels and type of work in tire manufacturing workers. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2014 Nov 4; 26(1): 50

5. Liu X et al. Lycopene inhibits IGF-I signal transduction and growth in normal prostate epithelial cells by decreasing DHT-modulated IGF-I production in co-cultured reactive stromal cells. Carcinogenesis 2008 Apr; 29(4): 816-23

6. Paller CJ et al. A randomized phase II study of pomegranate extract for men with rising PSA following initial therapy for localized prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Disease 2013 Mar; 16(1): 50-55

7. Zhang J et al. An inverse association of obesity and prostate-specific antigen in elderly males. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine 2016; 9(9): 18746-53

http://easyhealthoptions.com/10-ways-lower-psa-levels/

Romania keeps ancient tradition of bee medicine alive

14 April 2014

A woman checks the texture of bee venom based cream at the factory of the Research and Development Institute of Beekeeping in Bucharest on March 18, 2014. AFP RELAXNEWS

BEE venom to combat multiple sclerosis, pollen for indigestion, honey to heal wounds -- the humble bee has been a key source of alternative medicines since ancient times, and Romania is working to keep the tradition of "apitherapy" alive.

The tradition goes back to ancient Greece when Hippocrates applied honey to treat wounds, and the Romans saw pollen as "life-giving".

In the past of India, China and Egypt, a resinous substance collected by bees from the buds of certain trees, known as "propolis", was popular as an antiseptic.

"The hive is the oldest and healthiest natural pharmacy," said Cristina Mateescu, director general of the Institute for Apicultural Research and Development in Bucharest.

Today in the wilderness of Romania's Carpathian mountains, honey bee products are still a familiar part of traditional medicine.

"In my village, my great-grandmother was a healer and used products from beehives. She inspired me," Dr Mariana Stan told AFP.

Having spent years as a conventional doctor, Stan now practises in Bucharest as a "apitherapist" -- using bee products "which give slower but longer lasting and more profound results".

In a country still infused with folk culture, several families continue to use propolis against sore throats, as well as honey and pollen to boost the immune system.

Apitherapy pioneer

Every town in Romania has its "plafar" -- natural pharmacies selling products made from plants, honey, beeswax and propolis.

"Romania is a pioneer of apitherapy, which it recognised very early as a component of scientific medicine," said US professor Theodor Charbuliez, head of the Apimondia Commission of Apitherapy, a group that brings together thousands of practitioners from around the world.

Modules on apitherapy have started to work their way into more conventional medical classes and extracts from propolis developed by the Apicultural institute into recognised medicines.

Founded in 1974, the institute employs 105 people who look after local bee colonies and sell around 30 approved products.

A new range even seeks to treat cats and dogs with bee-related products.

Bucharest also boasts an Apitherapy medical centre, the world's first, which opened in 1984.

Scepticism remains among the regular medical community in the absence of scientific studies about the effects of bee venom, but many users are full of praise and welcome the cheap costs and environmentally friendly approach.

Doina Postolachi comes twice a week to the medical centre to receive injections of bee venom, or "apitoxin".

The 34-year-old poet says the injections have allowed her to "rediscover hope" in her fight against multiple sclerosis.

"For a year, I could no longer walk or get into my bath. My feet were stuck to the ground. But today, the venom treatment has given me back strength in my legs. I walk, I can take baths," she said.

She said she has never wanted any regular pharmaceutical treatments "which come with numerous side effects".

- Bees do wonders -

There has been mounting interest across the world in apitherapy.

In 2013, Washington University in the US city of St Louis published a study on the efficacy of milittine, a toxin contained in bee venom, in countering the AIDS virus.

In France, thousands of patients have benefited from bandages treated with honey at the abdominal surgery department of Limoges hospital.

Bee products are also infiltrating the cosmetics industry, used in skin-toning and anti-wrinkle creams.

Part of the appeal rests with the natural and organic image of bee products.

"In Romania, we have the chance to maintain an unspoiled nature," said Cornelia Dostetan, a member of the National Apitherapy Society.

Under Communism, poverty meant that pesticides were rarely used and the country has never shifted to large-scale monoculture forms of agriculture. The result is that Romania retains a great diversity of flora, said Dostetan.

Certified organic, the Romanian brand Apiland, a specialist in raw pollen, has launched its products in France and Italy.

According to the last agricultural census in 2010, Romania counted 42,000 beekeepers and more than 1.3 million colonies of bees.

Postolachi says she looks on the bees with "immense gratitude".

"These miniscule beings do wonders." – AFP Relaxnews

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1015656

The Allergy Cure

September 15, 2013

Home remedies and natural treatments

 

 

Attention hay fever sufferers, help is here! Natural remedies can reduce symptoms and/or improve the ability of your immune system to resist the seasonal (or perpetual) onslaughts.

 

Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, is a catchall term for both seasonal and perennial rhinitis—and it’s the most common immune system disorder in the US, affecting about 35 million Americans. Seasonal triggers include ragweed pollen (common in the fall), tree pollen (common in the spring) and grass pollen (common in the late spring and early summer). Year-round hay fever triggers include dust mites and cockroaches, spores from fungi and molds, and dander from pets.

 

Symptoms include runny nose, watery/itchy eyes, sneezing and/or coughing. You can treat the symptoms with antihistamines or other medications, but they’re often expensive and may cause side effects.

 

Here are our favorite natural remedies. Try one or two at a time to see which one(s) work for you.

Caution: Always check with your doctor before starting or stopping any medications or supplements.

 

BEE POLLEN

 

Research has shown that bee pollen (which is made by honeybees and is the food of the young bee) may inhibit the activity of mast cells, a class of immune system cells that release histamine, the substance that causes itchy eyes, nasal congestion and other allergy symptoms.

 

To use: Start taking bee pollen about four months before the start of your typical hay fever season. For the first few days, take just a few granules at a time. Then slowly increase the amount every day for a month, until you’re taking about one teaspoon a day. Follow the same slow progression for the second and third months, until you’re taking a total of three teaspoons a day. You have to go slowly because taking too much bee pollen too quickly could cause an allergic reaction of its own, with symptoms such as stomach pain, hives and a fast heart rate.

 

Caution: If you have an insect allergy—especially to bees—steer clear of bee pollen, which can contain bee saliva

 

FENUGREEK TEA

 

Fenugreek is the herb that gives curries their slightly peppery flavor. As with bee pollen, you can use it to desensitize your immune system prior to allergy season. It’s also a mucolytic that naturally loosens phlegm and reduces coughing and sneezing.

 

To use: About three months before your allergy season, start drinking a daily cup of fenugreek tea. You can buy bags of this tea in health-food stores. Or you can buy the whole seeds…put about one teaspoon in a tea strainer…cover with just-boiled water…and steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Continue to drink it throughout your allergy season.

 

HONEYCOMB

 

Honeycomb is a natural antihistamine. When hay fever is flaring, chew a one-inch square of honeycomb. Swallow the honey, and keep chewing the waxy portion for about 10 minutes, then spit it out and discard. You probably will notice the difference right away.

 

You can buy honeycomb in most health-food stores, but try to find honeycomb that is produced in your area. You want it to contain trace amounts of the same pollens that, in larger amounts, trigger your symptoms.

 

Caution: If you are allergic to bees, stay away from honeycomb.

 

GARLIC AND HORSERADISH

 

Potent chemical compounds in both garlic and horseradish thin mucus and make it more watery. They will help reduce sneezing, congestion and other hay fever symptoms.

 

To use: Finely mince a clove of raw garlic, and add it to water, orange juice or applesauce. Then add one-quarter teaspoon of horseradish to vegetable juice—or sprinkle it on a salad—and consume that. Both the aromas and the strong flavors of these pungent herbs will clear nasal congestion in seconds.
 

To prevent nausea, make sure that you have food in your stomach before swallowing raw garlic.

 

NETTLE

 

Also known as stinging nettle (because the leaves and stems have hairlike barbs that sting the skin), it’s a traditional allergy remedy. When taken orally, it blocks the body’s production of histamine and reduces inflammation and congestion.

 

To use: You can drink a tea made from nettle, but it is easier to take a freeze-dried extract. The typical dose is one or two capsules every two to four hours during allergy flare-ups.

 

LAVENDER OIL

 

Lavender can be used as aromatherapy to relieve congestion and other allergy symptoms. The scent-filled molecules act as natural antihistamines and reduce inflammation and congestion in the nasal passages.

 

To use: Put a drop or two of lavender oil on a handkerchief. Take a deep sniff every few minutes when your allergies are flaring.

 

QUERCETIN

 

Every time you eat an apple or add onion to a recipe, you’re getting small amounts of quercetin, a bioflavonoid that reduces inflammation. In large enough doses, it inhibits the effects of histamine and reduces nasal congestion. But you can’t get adequate amounts of quercetin from foods to control allergies.

 

To use: When you are having allergy symptoms, take 300 milligrams (mg) to 600 mg of a quercetin supplement daily.

 

FISH OIL

 

The omega-3 fatty acids in fish and fish oil have been shown to reduce inflammation throughout the body. Cardiologists often recommend fish oil to lower triglycerides and prevent heart disease and stroke. It also can lessen allergy symptoms by reducing inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages.

 

To use: Take 2,000 mg daily.

 

Look for a fish-oil product that says “purified” or “mercury-free” on the label. It should contain at least 500 mg of EPA and 250 mg of DHA per capsule. You can find the capsules online or in health-food stores.

 

Caution: Check with your doctor, especially if you also are taking a blood-thinning medication such as warfarin. Using both together could increase the risk of bleeding.

 

A RAZOR

 

Men, this one’s for you—your allergies might be originating right under your nose.

 

It’s common for grains of pollen to get trapped in mustaches and beards. Every time you inhale, the featherweight grains waft upward and into the nostrils, triggering allergies.

 

Helpful: If you would prefer not to shave off your mustache or beard, get into the habit of shampooing it after you’ve spent time outdoors during your allergy season.

 

Source: Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen, health investigators based in New York City who have spent decades collecting “cures from the cupboard,” traditional remedies that have been successfully used by millions of people worldwide. Their most recent book is Bottom Line’s Treasury of Home Remedies & Natural Cures (Bottom Line Books).

 

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/the-allergy-cure

Phytotherapy For Prostate Health

Dr. Geo Espinosa | Aug 22, 2013

The prostate gland is involved in many tasks that affect the urinary tract, sexual function, reproductive health and a man’s overall health. However, the prostate is susceptible to problems, including enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH), prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) and prostate cancer.

Two natural substances that can help support and restore prostate health are pollen and quercetin. Both pollen and quercetin can be taken individually to nurture the prostate, but they work well together in prostate supplements designed to promote prostate health. Because they come from plant sources, they are considered types of phytotherapy.

What Is Phytotherapy?

Phytotherapy is the use of herbs or other plant-based products to prevent or treat a health condition.

Phytopherapy is popular among men with prostate problems, especially when conventional therapies such as taking antibiotics for chronic prostatitis are not effective.

Because both pollen and quercetin work in slightly different ways, they make a great team in covering general prostate health including BPH, prostatitis and prostate cancer.

The advantages of combining phytotherapies such as pollen extracts and quercetin include:

• Unique mechanisms of action.
• Minimal side effects.
• Low cost.
• High level of acceptance by patients.
• Effectiveness in treating symptoms of BPH and prostatitis.

Given the overlap of lower urinary tract symptoms between BPH and chronic prostatitis, these two phytotherapies — either alone or in combination in “prostatic health” formulations — have also been recommended for men with prostatitis.

How do these plant-based therapies work in combination? Pollen is an anti-inflammatory. It helps with relieving symptoms of BPH and prostatitis. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid phytonutrient that also provides anti-inflammatory benefits. It is commonly found in foods such as apples, tea, onions, red grapes, wine, leafy greens and some berries. Quercetin also has antioxidant and antitumor properties for preventing and fighting prostate cancer.

Studies On Quercetin For Prostate Cancer And Prostatitis

Quercetin is used to relieve symptoms for men with BPH, prostatitis and prostate cancer. It has been identified as being especially beneficial for BPH and, in cases of prostatitis in numerous clinical studies, usually at a dose of 500 mg daily.

Quercetin has demonstrated the ability to interrupt the spread of prostate cancer and to promote cell death. A study published in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry reported that quercetin was able to decrease the activity of specific enzymes that are known to be involved in tumor invasion and metastases. This finding led the authors to note that quercetin could be developed as a chemopreventive agent for metastatic prostate cancer.

Quercetin has the ability to inhibit the production and release of substances that cause inflammation, making it an effective natural agent for managing chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), the most common type of prostatitis and the hardest to treat. In a study from the Cleveland Clinic, quercetin was found to be the most effective treatment for prostatitis when compared with other treatments. Another trial revealed that 500 mg of quercetin taken twice a day for one month resulted in a significant decline in prostatitis symptoms when compared with placebo.

In 1999, researchers reported that quercetin “provides significant symptomatic improvement” in men who have chronic nonbacterial CP/CPPS. Two-thirds of the patients said their quality of life had improved after quercetin treatment. The study’s authors attributed the positive results to quercetin’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study also produced positive results. Twenty-eight men who had chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/CPPS took either 500 mg of quercetin or placebo twice daily for one month. At the end of the month, the International Prostate Symptom Score declined from 21 to 13.1 in the quercetin group and from 20.2 to 18.8 in the placebo group.

Studies On Pollen For BPH And Prostatitis

Most of the studies on pollen and how it affects prostate health cover Graminex pollen extract, also called cernilton. Graminex contains pollen from rye, corn and timothy. Bee pollen extracts have been used for more than 35 years in Europe to help treat BPH. There are several studies on pollen’s effectiveness at relieving BPH symptoms.

Pollen extract is about 70 percent effective at decreasing symptoms of an enlarged prostate such as the need to urinate at night, frequent urination, poor urinary flow rates, poor urinary volume and residual urine volume (the amount of urine left in the bladder after urinating). The analysis from four studies that involved 444 men with enlarged prostates found that bee pollen helped improve the need to urinate overnight when compared with a placebo.

Another study published in the British Journal of Urology had men with outflow obstruction from enlarged prostate take either bee pollen or a placebo every day for six months. At the end of this double-blind study, 69 percent of men who took bee pollen said symptoms had improved, compared with 30 percent who took the placebo. The improvements that men experienced included a decrease in residual urine as well as a measured decrease in the diameter of the prostate.

A study in Japan evaluated 79 patients who took bee pollen for more than 12 weeks. When the study ended, the men had increased flow rates, while residual volume had decreased a significant amount. Other improvements were reported for urgency, dysuria, nocturia, delayed voiding, dribbling after urination and incomplete emptying.

Besides helping with BPH symptoms, men also use Graminex pollen to treat the symptoms of prostatitis. In a study on cernilton on CP/CPPS presented by the American Urological Association in 2006, men taking cernilton had statistically significant improvements in their pain and quality of life.

Another study published in Urology in January 2006, reported that men with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/CPPS who took a pollen extract for six months either had no symptoms of prostatitis or showed a significant improvement in symptoms by the end of the study.

Pollen has been shown to inhibit prostate cell growth and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Its usefulness in all these aspects makes bee pollen an important supplement for overall prostate health.

Where Can I Find Quercetin And Pollen?


Both quercetin and pollen extract offer benefits for the support and promotion of prostate health. A prostate health supplement that contains these and other natural remedies such as Prost-P10x is a great way to get the benefits of these two ingredients if you are struggling with prostate health concerns. You can also find supplements in your health food store.

There are a few precautions you should take with these two supplements:

• Bee pollen is not for people who are allergic to pollen. People who are allergic to pollen could have a severe reaction to it with symptoms such as hives, shortness of breath and swelling of the tongue, face and throat. Talk to your doctor before taking bee pollen if you are allergic to grass, flowers or other plants.
• You should not exceed 1 gram daily of quercetin without consulting your healthcare provider. Most studies showed it is effective at 500 mg. Side effects of quercetin may include headache and stomach upset.

References:

Rugendorff, E.W., et al. Results of treatment with pollen extract (Cernilton N) in chronic prostatitis and prostatodynia. Br J Urol 1993 Apr; 71(4): 433-38.
Shoskes DA et al. Quercetin in men with category III chronic prostatitis: a preliminary prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Urology 1999; 54(6):960-63.
Shoskes DA et al. Phenotypically directed multimodal therapy for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a prospective study using UPOINT. Urology2010 Jun; 75(6): 1249-53
Vijayababu MR et al. Quercetin downregulates matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 proteins expression in prostate cancer cells (PC-3). Mol Cell Biochem 2006 Jul; 287(1-2): 109-16

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