What does saw palmetto do for your prostate?

As we age, many men will experience the joys of an enlarged prostate. And while it’s true that getting up to pee every hour on the hour can be a real treat, there are treatments out there that can help. Enter saw palmetto, a supplement touted as a natural remedy for prostate problems.

What is Saw Palmetto?

Saw palmetto comes from the fruit of a small palm tree and has been used for centuries by Native Americans as both food and medicine. Today, it’s commonly found in supplements designed to improve urinary tract function.

Does It Actually Work?

Ah yes, the million-dollar question – does saw palmetto actually make any sort of difference? Well luckily for you groaning grandpas out there, studies have shown that regular consumption may indeed provide some relief from those pesky BPH symptoms.

But hold up just one minute – before you toss your Flomax down the toilet in favor of this fruity little miracle berry (because who doesn’t love more ‘miracle’ in their lives), let’s break down exactly what saw palmetto supposedly does:

Blocks DHT

Dihydrotestosterone (or DHT) is believed to play a role in prostate growth which can lead to enlargement and associated symptoms like increased frequency or difficulty emptying your bladder (helloooo twisty straws). Many proponents claim that saw palmetto works by blocking DHT production but alas the limited-level evidence on this is weak.

Anti-inflammatory Properties

Some believe inflammation plays a part in prostate dysfunction and thus popping some saw-pills could lower inflammation levels enough for men with mild-to-moderate BHP (what fun alliteration) experienced symptom reduction compared to placebo.

Helps Urinary Symptoms

Urinating during waking hours more often than viewing sunset movies at drive-ins seems to be the norm for men with enlarged prostates. Luckily, saw palmetto may loosen muscles around the bladder and urethra making dear old pee-flow easier.

Goodbye Nocturia

Bah-bye excessive urination at night! This symptom of an enlarged prostate tends to disrupt sweet sweet dreams; but saw palmetto may reduce urge incontinence thus you can finally have a full 5 minutes between each bathroom break during slumber-party extravaganzas.

Now here’s another kicker – despite some promising information out there on this supplement that are mixed results based on scientific evidence from trial studies.

Is It Safe?

With any treatment or supplement, safety is always an important consideration.
Luckily saw palmetto has pretty minimal side effects including headaches, dizziness, nausea & stomach discomfort (like jalapeno limeade after Taco Tuesday) while some others might experience low libido or ejaculatory problems as well (oh no) .

Plus majority of supplements are blend-ed products which means other various elements can find their way into your pills and capsules includ-ing sneaky-peaky pharmaceuticals substances (think “blue diamond” tablets).

The takeaway? Before beginning supplementation talk to your doctor about possible interactions if you’re already taking medication – this isn’t a conversation suave enough for even Austin Powers-like players appear cool regarding excessively long trips down antibiotics’ aisle.

How Should You Take Saw Palmetto Supplements?

Saw palmetto supplements can either come as ground-up fruit powder (capsules), liquid extracts (tinctures), or tea bags. Dosages vary by product so tips like following bottle instructions and avoiding exceed recommended doses applies here too.

Oh yea–the most convenient part is how ingesting saw-pal berries don’t have major impact on absorption rates when consumed with fatty meals compared to drug medicine thus cashing-in infinite possibilities of your favourite greasy dish alongside supplemental bliss.

Conclusion

Saw Palmetto is one natural supplement that has shown significant promise when it comes to fighting BPH symptoms – but as always, proceed with caution and be informed.

Now if only there was a berry out there for ‘over-thirty’ metabolism renewal…

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