A NUTRITIONAL therapist who runs clinics in Wiltshire is sharing men’s health tips ahead of Father’s Day.

During Men’s Health Week, Caroline Peyton wants to raise awareness about a condition which affects one third of men over the age of 50.

Prostate enlargement or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is not cancerous but is a common problem for many men who feel embarrassed about it.

If the prostate becomes enlarged, it can clamp the flow of urine which means men can find they need to urinate more frequently, and there may be leakage and urinary tract infections.

Caroline said: “The prostate is part of the male reproductive system and sex hormones play a significant part in BPH development and progression.

“The DHT hormone is a stronger form of testosterone, which encourages growth and oestrogen also plays a role. Diet can help to control these hormones.”

She offered seven diet tips which can help with the problem.

1. Avoid a high fat diet, particularly from saturated animal and dairy fats.

2. Eat more vegetables, especially those rich in beta-carotene (carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and winter squash), lutein (kale, spinach, broccoli, peas, parsley, peppers) and vitamin C (yellow and red peppers, parsley, tomatoes, peas, broccoli).

3. Eat pumpkin seeds as a snack, or as additions to salad and porridge.

4. Include foods containing phytoestrogens every day. These are found in soy (particularly fermented like tempeh and tofu), lentils, flaxseed, pulses, celery and oats.

5. Zinc is increasingly lacking in the modern diet and has been found to be significantly lower in those with BPH. The best food sources are oysters, chicken legs, pumpkin seeds, tofu, lentils, sesame seeds and eggs.

6. Take care to keep blood sugar levels stable as excess blood glucose can raise insulin which, in turn, could lead to increased levels of DHT.

Switch refined starchy carbohydrates for wholegrains and keep portion sizes low. Always eat protein with meals and minimise sugary fruit like grapes, bananas, tropical varieties and dried fruit. Avoid fruit juices which are very high in sugars.

7. Foods containing beta-sitosterol may reduce the inconvenience of urinary frequency.

This is found in plant-based foods, so eat a vegetable-rich diet – soya, olives and olive oil and flaxseeds. Saw Palmetto is the most well-known therapeutic agent for BPH and it is rich in beta-sitosterols.

For more information, visit www.peytonprinciples.com