The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. It is located under the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum. The position of the prostate allows it to affect the processes of urination and ejaculation.

Prostate disorders have become more common and the number of cases of prostate disorders has continued to escalate.

Supplements are now available to help men minimize the chance of developing prostate disorders.  Supplements for prostate health are meant to help improve health and reduce the chance of developing prostate disorders namely prostatitis, enlarged prostate and even cancer. According to studies, nutrition is the most important factor both in the development and management of prostate gland diseases. Proper diet and a healthy lifestyle are believed to be key elements in maintaining a healthy prostate.

The most popular supplement for prostate health is Saw Palmetto which is an extract of the fruit serenoa repens.  Saw Palmetto is rich in fatty acids and phytosterols which are presumed to be the components which are beneficial for prostate health.  Early research indicated that the extract is well-tolerated and suggested “mild to moderate improvement in urinary symptoms and flow measures” 

Nettle Root is often included in supplements for prostate health as it has been shown to help men urinate more easily and empty their bladder more fully.  As a prostate treatment it has not been found to reverse prostate disorders. It is simply used to provide more comfort. It has no known side effect when taken internally.

Pygeum is another popular compound in supplements designed to promote prostate health.  Effects attributed to whole extracts of pygeum include normalization of glandular epithelium, an increase in prostatic secretions, estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activity, and inhibition of fibroblast proliferation.

When it comes to minerals, zinc has been hailed as the most effective in helping lower a man’s chances of developing prostate disorders. Zinc can be found in shellfish, yeast and pumpkin seeds. Since men tend to lose zinc when they ejaculate, their need for this particular mineral is higher than that of women. A daily intake of 50 to 100 milligrams of zinc has been recommended by health experts to ensure a proper level of supply in the body.

Pumpkin seed oil appears to be able to interrupt the triggering of prostate cell multiplication by testosterone and DHT, although the exact mechanism for this effect is still a matter of discussion.

One of the most interesting aspects of the way phytonutrients interact with the human body – beyond their broad spectrum antioxidant activity – is their tendency to be “organ specific.”  Different carotenoids have an affinity for different organs in the body! In the case of lycopene, it’s the most plentiful carotenoid in the prostate gland. Studies have explored the link between diets high in lycopene and proper prostate function.

Recently, the açai “berry” has been touted and marketed as a highly beneficial dietary supplemet. Companies sell açaí berry products in the form of tablets, juice, smoothies, instant drink powders, and whole fruit.

Marketers of these products make claims that açai provides increased energy levels, improved sexual performance, improved digestion, detoxification, high fiber content, high antioxidant content, improved skin appearance, improved heart health, improved sleep, and reduction of cholesterol levels. More dubious claims include reversal of diabetes and other chronic illnesses, as well as expanding size of the penis and increasing men’s sexual virility and sexual attractiveness to women. Açai is most commonly marketed as a weight loss product.

As of March 2009, there are no controlled studies backing up any of these claims.

Acai is definitely a strong antioxidant and contains many beneficial vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.  Acai would be beneficial for general health but users will be disappointed if they are seeking weight loss.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA has been shown to inhibit the activity of lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme involved in the uptake of fat into fat cells.  This can reduce fat uptake into cells preventing accumulation of body fat.  Several studies have shown that CLA can positively affect body composition and has a beneficial effect on lean muscle mass. 

Most products are dosed between 800 and 1000mg per soft gel.  For best results take between 3 and 6 grams per day in divided doses.

To really select supplements that work you need to understand what is in them and how those ingredients work.  Most consumers do one of two things; they either read magazine ads or articles (ads in disguise) or they look to a website for reviews on the product they are considering.  This is what most consumers call doing “research” or “doing their homework”.  Unfortunately this gives the consumer no clue as to what is actually in the product or any understanding as to whether the ingredients in the product work for their intended purpose.  Magazine ads are obviously paid advertisements with the supplement company’s best interests in mind and not the consumers.  What gets a little confusing is that most companies are now using what are called advertorials which are advertisements disguised as editorials or magazine content.  Basically they use an article format for an ad so that what you are looking at reads as if it is an article.  Even the articles in the magazine can be compromised by the manufacturer’s biases.  All magazines are ad sponsored meaning they are paid for by advertisers.  Don’t think for a second that these magazines will publish anything negative about their advertisers, after all without the ads the magazines would not exist.  In fact most magazines help out their advertisers by publishing content that promotes the products the advertisers want to sell, so even the “unbiased” articles you are reading are likely influenced in some way, shape or form by supplement manufacturer advertising dollars.  Make sure you are careful and critical of what you read. 

So if we can’t trust the magazines surely we can trust unbiased product reviews from real life consumers.  Maybe and maybe not, keep in mind you have no idea who is writing the review you read.  Does this person have any experience with supplements?  How long have they been working out?  Are their goals the same as yours?  On what basis are they reviewing the product?  Did the product cause them any side effects (they may not be aware of them)?  Does this individual have any affiliation with a supplement manufacturer or website?  To take this a step further lets assume you are reading a review for BSN’s NO Xplode.  Let’s say the reviewer says something like the following: 

“I have been using NO Xplode for about three weeks and really love the product.  It gives me awesome pumps.  The workouts are great, lots of intensity.  I have definitely gotten stronger and added a couple pounds.  This product is a must.”

If we break down this review you will see just how hard it is to determine whether this product actually did anything for the user.  First off the reviewer mentioned size and strength gains but did not tell you whether they where using any other products, they also did not mention whether they increased their calories or if they are new to lifting weights.  Any of these could account for size and strength gains.  The reviewer also mentioned the “pump”, this seems like a no brainer but if you talk to guys who are younger many associate pump with being pumped up as in energy.  Most serious lifters associate pump with muscle pump or blood flow to the muscle however from the statement above we have no way of knowing what pump means.  Hopefully you get the picture.  You will have no way of determing any of these questions and many more which are all important in determining whether the review has any validity.  Again be critical of what you read.

So if magazines and the web can’t be trusted how is a supplement user able to find good information?  That’s a good question and there are no good answers to it.  The best way is to really understand the ingredients in the products and what they are capable of.  Try doing some searches in databases like pub med for information on individual ingredients.  Also try spending some time in your local library reading books on supplements and nutrition.  You will be surprised at what you can find once you start looking for quality information.

You wouldn’t do the same workout day in and day out and expect to make continual progress.  The same concept applies to most supplements as well.  Some supplements like multi vitamins, protein, and EFA’s (fish oil, flax) should be considered food and can be used all the time.  Most of the other supplements that you use should be cycled on and off.  If you make changes in your supplement routine usually every 30 to 90 days you will find that you make more consistent progress.  The other way to maximize supplement results is by stacking products together that have a complimentary effect.  You should be carefully choosing products that will help you achieve your desired fitness or performance goals.  For example if you are looking for strength gains try pairing creatine, beta-alanine and branched chain amino acids.  A combination like this will allow your muscles to handle a greater workload leading to strength gains.  This product combination should be run for about 90 days at which point you will probably notice that your strength will plateau.  Once you find your progress stalling out you should start looking to put together another product combination that will jump start your progress.

The following information will help you make better food choices and understand what types of foods you should be eating for better health.

Calories per gram: 

Protein 1gram = 4 calories

Fats 1 gram = 9 calories

Carbohydrates 1 gram = 4 calories

Health Fats:

Olive oil, nuts especially walnuts, avocados, seeds

Healthy Carbs:

Vegetables, fruits, beans, legumes, whole and cracked grains

Healthy Proteins:

Eggs, low fat dairy, fish, chicken, lean cuts of beef

If you where to compare today’s food to food grown 50 years ago you would find today’s food contains 15 to 75 percent less nutrient content.  This is even true for most organically produced foods.  What has happened is that food quality has diminished while food production or quantity has increased.  Modern farming methods allow for greater yields but they have sacrificed the nutritional value of the food we eat.  Modern farming took off in the 1930’s as farmers started using purified fertilizers like nitrogen, phosphorus and potash.  The is known as the NPK model.  Crops grow faster but other nutrients that are needed for plant and human health where never replenished to the soil and are now gone in most areas. 

Fortunately for consumers the ability to get a high quality multivitamin and mineral supplement is relatively easy.  Almost everyone should be taking a high quality multi vitamin, mineral supplement.  Look for a product that is food based meaning the nutrients are derived from actual foods rather than synthetic sources.

In order to maximize any exercise program you should know how many calories you are burning at rest.  You then can account for extra calories burned as a result of exercise which will help you adjust your diet to achieve your fitness goals.  The Harris Benedict equation which is listed below for men and women can be used to help you determine your base metabolic rate.

Women

BMR=

655 +  (4.35 x weight in pounds)

+  (12.7 x height in inches)

-  (4.7 x age in years)

Men

BMR=

66 + (6.23 x weight in pounds)

+  (12.7 x  height in inches)

-  (6.8 x age in years)

When introducing a customer to a small lesser known brand we often hear the comment “I haven’t heard of this company”.  People like to buy products from brands they have heard of.  Most people feel they can trust a larger brand based on quality and reputation.

Consider the following before you pick up your next big brand name product.  If you where to enter a grocery store and look around for brands you recognize you would find several including Kellogs, General Mills, Kraft, and Pillsbury.  Now stop and think about the foods they make and compare them to the organic produce, organic meats, and other farm raised products.  You would be hard pressed to name even one farm from which the healthier organic farm raised products come from.  Keep this in mind before placing too much faith in a large company who is often more interested in profits than they are the end consumer.   

Detox and Cleanse

Almost everyone cheats on their diet occasionally.  Consuming excess calories, carbs and bad fats can derail weight loss and make you feel ill.  After getting in a habit of eating clean most people will feel lethargic and even ill when they consume large amounts of the wrong types of foods.  Although we recommend eating healthy all the time when you don’t, try using Optimum Health’s Detox and Cleanse.  The herbal blend in this product will help your body cleanse itself within a matter of days.  You will notice a reduction in bloating in as little as 24 hours.  The gentle blend of fiber in Detox and Cleanse act almost like a broom on a floor sweeping out particles in the digestive tract to help the body cleanse itself of unwanted waste and toxins. 

Combine the Detox with essential fats like those in Olio and you can minimize the amount of fat that your body will store.  Supplementing with as little as 1100 milligrams of essential fats can increase fat burning by as much as 35% even after a carbohydrate rich meal.  There is mounting scientific evidence that essential fats exert an anti-obesity effect by shifting fat metabolism away from storage as body fat and toward fat burning.