Prostate hypertrophy dietary taboos

Currently, it is clinically recognized that there are three main types of dietary taboos that will clearly aggravate the symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia (the full medical name is benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH) and accelerate the progression of hyperplasia - alcohol and high-caffeine drinks, highly stimulating foods, and foods high in saturated animal fat. Most of the other "taboos" spread online are academically controversial, and there is no need to blindly ban all foods.

Don’t believe in the influence of diet. I just saw a 62-year-old Zhou last month. He was diagnosed with hyperplasia three years ago. He takes medicine regularly to control it very steadily. He wakes up once at most during the night and urinates smoothly. During the National Day, he got together with his old comrades for three days. After eating spicy hot pot with white wine, I couldn't urinate at midnight on the third day. A urinary catheter was inserted in the emergency department. A B-ultrasound showed that the prostate was 1/3 swollen compared to half a year ago. The continuous stimulation caused the gland to become congested and edematous, blocking the urethra. The prostate is an organ that is particularly sensitive to local congestion and inflammatory stimulation. It is a bit like a small water sac that swells when touched. Many people think that it is okay to take medicine and be greedy, and only regret it when symptoms come to their doorstep.

That’s not to say that you can’t touch spicy food at all. For example, patients in Sichuan and Chongqing areas are used to eating spicy food. In fact, there will be no obvious reaction if they eat a small amount. They are afraid of taking a large amount in a short period of time. There are also strong stimulating seasonings such as raw garlic, raw onions, and mustard, which can also easily induce congestion. If you are already in the acute stage of poor urination and distended lower abdomen, it is best not to touch it at all.

I previously followed up a 58-year-old business executive who could not live without braised pork and pork elbows with sauce. During physical examinations, his PSA (prostate-specific antigen) index always hovered at the critical value, and no cancer was found during the puncture. Later, he was asked to reduce the number of red meats he eats to less than 2 times a week, and eat more fish and poultry. After 3 months, the PSA dropped to the normal range when he was reexamined. Now his urination is much smoother than before. Current mainstream research has confirmed that long-term intake of large amounts of saturated animal fat will increase androgen levels in the body, accelerate prostate hyperplasia, and increase the risk of malignant transformation. Therefore, you should really avoid eating fatty meats and processed meat products.

Many people only know that they cannot drink alcohol, but do not know that strong tea, functional drinks, or even large amounts of coffee are not acceptable. A while ago, Uncle Wang, who was running long-distance transportation, always felt sleepy and drank two cans of functional drinks a day. Originally, he only got up once at night. During that period, he had to get up four or five times a night. He thought it was aggravation of hyperplasia. When he checked, he found that the size of the prostate had not changed. It was because caffeine stimulated the overactive bladder detrusor muscle, so he stopped the functional drinks and drank more warm water. Within a week, the symptoms were relieved. It is important to mention here that alcohol should be avoided as much as possible. It will not only congest the prostate, but also inhibit the urinary reflex of the bladder. In severe cases, it can directly induce urinary retention, which is more harmful than spicy food.

As for the myth that "soy products, seafood, leeks, and mutton are taboos for the prostate" that is so popular on the Internet, it really depends on the situation. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that prostatic hyperplasia belongs to the category of "stagnation", which is mostly caused by dampness and heat and kidney qi deficiency. Warm and dry mutton, dog meat, and seafood may aggravate dampness and heat. It is indeed recommended to eat less in the acute stage, but modern medicine There is no concept of "fatting". I have also met many patients in the north who ate mutton dumplings once a week in winter and did not experience any worsening of symptoms. The key is to see your own reaction after eating. If you don't feel uncomfortable urinating after eating, there is no need to completely avoid the food.

There is also the most controversial soy product. Some people say that it contains phytoestrogens, which will affect androgens and aggravate hyperplasia? In fact, the current research conclusion is exactly the opposite. East Asian people often eat soy products, and the incidence of prostate hyperplasia is much lower than that in Europe and the United States. Only if the daily intake of soy isoflavones exceeds 100 mg, which means drinking almost 10 cups of thick soy milk and eating more than 3 pounds of tofu, can it reach an impactful dose. It is perfectly fine to drink soy milk and eat tofu normally. However, it is just a taboo, but it is lacking in nutrients.

Having been a urological surgeon for so many years, I often tell patients that dietary taboos for prostatic hyperplasia are never black and white. The core is to avoid the three categories mentioned above that are clearly harmful, and adjust the rest flexibly. There is no need to make a long list of forbidden foods. You can’t eat this or that, and life is no longer fun, which is not good. Of course, if your symptoms are severe, you’d better avoid more foods. It’s not too late to slowly add them back in when they stabilize. After all, living comfortably is the most important thing, right?