The prostate is a gland belonging to the male reproductive system, which is located behind the bladder and its main function is the production of semen. It is usually quite small in size, however, over the years, it can become inflamed and begin to cause various inconveniences.
Commonly the inflamed prostate or prostatitis as it is known in the medical field, begins to appear in men over 45 years and a good diet is essential for its prevention. In we tell you what are the symptoms of prostatitis and foods harmful to the inflamed prostate, so you can avoid them and improve your condition.
Prostatitis and its symptoms
The inflamed prostate or prostatitis is the inflammation of said male organ, it is usually like a kind of defense of the body against bacteria, infections or injuries, however it is a condition that must be evaluated and treated by a specialist to avoid complications in the future.
Such prostate inflammation can be acute or chronic, depending on its duration which can vary from a couple of weeks to months. Symptoms can change between different types of prostatitis, depending on whether it is acute or chronic:
Symptoms of acute prostatitis
It usually occurs because of a bacterial infection inside the prostate and is described as acute because it lasts a couple of weeks or a little longer, that is, it is of short duration. Among the symptoms are:
- Heaviness in the lower abdomen, which can turn into pain.
- Difficulty urinating.
- Feeling full in the bladder even after going to the bathroom.
- Weak expulsion of urine.
- Fever.
- Blood in the urine or semen.
- Urinary incontinence.
- Pains in the lower back.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis
It is considered chronic when the symptoms mentioned above do not cease after a month with treatment, which requires a consultation with the doctor as a matter of urgency to rule out any major condition.
For the treatment of these symptoms, you should start with improving the diet and believe it or not, there are certain foods harmful to the inflamed prostate, which worsen this symptomatology, and that you should avoid.
Bad Foods for Inflamed Prostate
Just as there are anti-inflammatory foods, there are many others that can be inflammatory in different cases and in the case of prostate inflammation, they worsen it. These are the foods harmful to the inflamed prostate that you have to avoid eating if you want to be better off quickly and avoid further damage.
- Saturated fats: this point includes everything that contains fats from animals such as butter, cheeses, creams and beef and pork. These foods tend to worsen inflammatory processes and irritate the organ in question much more; it is advisable to reduce your intake if you suffer from this problem.
- Alcohol and other beverages: alcoholic beverages and others such as coffee, black tea and cola-based soft drinks are highly irritating and according to studies, are one of the main drinks that favor the appearance of prostate cancer. Avoid consuming these products as much as possible if you suffer from prostatitis.
- Dairy: due to the hormones used in the rearing of cattle at an industrial level, dairy or foods based on these can influence the hormones that control the prostate and promote abnormal growth or a worsening of inflammation.
- Sugar: this food is one of the most harmful, since it has been proven to be one of the main favorers of the appearance of tumors. However, its consumption in excess generates alterations in the glucose and insulin of the person, making it more prone to suffer from heart problems and prostate cancer.
Beneficial Foods for Prostate Inflammation
Just as there are foods not recommended in this case, there are those that favor the recovery of this problem. Here are some of the good foods for prostatitis or inflammation of the prostate:
- Nuts and seeds: fruits such as almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts are rich in antioxidants and healthy fats necessary for our body. They help control the action of free radicals in cells and eliminate trans fats. In the case of seeds, thanks to its high zinc content it is an excellent anti-inflammatory; opt for sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
- Green tea: studies have shown that it contains high amounts of lycopene, a substance that helps prevent up to 55% of prostate cancer; it also helps to obtain quality semen.
- White meats: here you will find meats such as chicken (specifically breast), turkey, fish fillets and eggs. They contain the healthiest fats and are a great source of protein.
- Fruits: mostly fruits are the healthiest foods, however, in the case of the prostate, watermelon, guava and papaya are ideal for reducing inflammation, thanks to their high content of vitamin A, C and lycopene.