Age has a big impact upon our overall health, with the likelihood of developing serious health-related issues increasing as we grow older. One of the most common areas for concern as men age is the prostate. This concern is well-founded given the variety of issues that can develop as well as the sheer number of individuals affected. Simply put, it’s important to start thinking about your health now in order to improve your prostate health and avoid complications like cancer. What is the best thing to drink for your prostate? Let’s take a look at how what we consume can help or hinder prostate health.
What are the worst things to drink for your prostate?
What we put into our bodies has a big impact upon how we feel and how aging affects us. It makes sense, then, that just as there are things to help keep your prostate strong, there are things that can accelerate its deterioration. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the things to avoid in order avoid negative side effects and ensure that you remain as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
Beer
According to this report by Sperling, alcohol is one of the most common beverages across the developed world. Not only is it something to be consumed in social settings, but also at home by ourselves. And because it’s such a normal pastime, it’s easy to drink quite a bit without realizing it. This can quickly take you from a “light” drinker to a “moderate” drinker, which means having up to two drinks every day. For many, that number probably sounds quite low, however it’s important to note just how quickly the amount of alcohol can add up.
Of the various types of alcoholic drinks available, beer appears to be the worst to consume in terms of prostate health. Drinking even moderately can have a big impact upon your body, with medical professionals generally agreeing that beer, specifically, is linked to higher chances of developing aggressive prostate cancer than other types of alcohol. If you believe you are at risk for this issue or are already struggling with prostate issues, avoiding beer is a smart move to help improve your side effects, not to mention to give your kidneys a break.
Wine
In contrast to the information above about how beer negatively affects your prostate, wine has been shown to be beneficial to prostate health. More specifically, red wine has been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer while white wine might increase the risk of developing it. The exact reasons for this are not clear, however some researchers believe that the resveratrol present in red wine might play a key role.
Caffeine
Alcohol isn’t the only culprit when it comes to beverages that worsen prostate health, of course, and prostate cancer isn’t the only concern to keep in mind. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate, is another problem that can arise. Some of the symptoms of BPH include difficulty urinating, the inability to urinate, or frequent urinary tract infections. It’s not a condition that you want to aggravate, in other words, and reducing its side effects often means cutting caffeine out of your diet. Because it is a diuretic, caffeine increases the need to urinate and leads to increased severity of bladder sensation as well as increased frequency of urinary urgency in sufferers of BPH.
Caffeinated Foods
Keep in mind that caffeine isn’t present only in beverages like coffee and tea. Certain supplements can contain the substance, as does food like chocolate. Make sure that you’re aware of what you’re putting into your body and cut out as much caffeine as possible.
Is drinking a lot of water good for your prostate?
We know a few of the beverages to avoid, but the question remains: what is the best thing to drink for your prostate? Luckily enough, the answer here is fairly simple. Drinking a lot of water can help improve prostate health quite a bit, making it one of the best drinks for the prostate available. This is great news not only because of the difference it can make in your health, but also because of the wide availability of the drink. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to improve your prostate, in other words. You can simply drink water and ensure that you receive the proper hydration – at least six to eight glasses – every day.
If you can’t drink enough plain water a day, consider trying caffeine-free tea. Green tea, in particular, is a great choice that has also been linked to the prevention of prostate cancer as well as reduced growth in existing prostate cancer. This makes it a great option all on its own, so don’t hesitate to give it a try even if you’re already sufficiently hydrated.
Now that you have a better understanding of how what you consume impacts your health, the question of ‘what is the best thing to drink for your prostate’ should be fairly clear. Water, including in mixtures like green tea, is the best choice for a healthy, strong prostate that functions well. Drinking a lot of water might seem like a chore sometimes, but it’s such a boon to your health that it should be a “must” every day, especially given the positive impact it has upon your body as a whole. Maintaining a smart diet full of water is a great way to improve your overall health.
