Let's get over the hump with (BPH)

It is Wednesday Hump Day, How is your BPH today?  What is really beneficial for your prostate is exercise, eating a balance meal, getting the proper sleep, trying to live a stres free life as much as you possibble can muster, August is wellness month so always take care of your body, when you are out taking a stroll always social  distance.

August is also golf month so if you are out on the green with some friends and family have fun and actually challenge each other in golf, we always do better when we feel we are put to the test of our abilities. Golfing is not only good for you physically, but importantly for your mind also. Being out with friends and family besides having fun it will keep your mind off of your prostate. Older men especially have certain symptoms are erectile dysfunction, bladder stones, blood in the urine, and inability to urinate. So tryUMOOZE a natural supplement.  

August is also beach month !!1 yay ,so when you are out with your family and friends  have a good time swimming and soaking in the sun don't forget to wear your sunscreen. but in the meantime you csn read and share our blog for a healthy and vibrant prostate. Remember alaways check with your doctor first and please take care of yourself and each other. https://linktr.ee/sunjourhc

Men's Health Month is Almost Over- What Did You Learn About BPH?

As June comes to a close, so too do the month-long campaign for men's health awareness known as Men's Health Month as well as the LGBT community's Pride Month. That doesn't mean that we should stop supporting these causes once July hits! Continued support to the communities around us are important, and these monthly celebrations or campaigns are simply reminders as well as opportunities to impart knowledge and encourage action. 

Our call to action is to have our audience learn more about BPH (prostate enlargement), a common condition in older men, and to take action if you are a BPH patient or know someone who is. Action can mean practicing healthier lifestyle habits like eating healthy and moving more, considering natural complementary therapy to your current regimen, increasing circulation to the area, talking to your doctor, and reading and sharing information in support of BPH responsibly. 

BPH is when the prostate gland grows in size and can potentially interfere with regular urinary function in the forms of frequent urination, weak urinary flow, sensation of urine remaining after voiding, stopping and starting (intermittent) flow, and more. Untreated, it could affect the bladder, kidneys, and sexual function because the prostate is part of the male reproductive system responsible for producing seminal fluid. 

Although some men may not recognize BPH by name, they know the feeling of getting up many times day and night to go to the bathroom- losing rest, being tied to the nearest bathroom, and interference with married and work life are all frustrating problems faced by older men with BPH. 

Even if you are still young or are approaching your 40s where BPH may start to manifest, it is still good to keep healthy habits to reduce the risk of worsening BPH. The prostate is growing throughout a man's life, so for many men, it's not a matter of if but when BPH will hit. 

In Asia, where incidence rates of BPH are lower, some have suggested a diet of soy in their nutrition has benefitted their prostate health, as well as more physical activity (walking, jogging, and swimming may be good options). 

Just because June is ending doesn't mean that BPH will cease to exist! Join us in supporting men's health, and share our BPH blog available in many platforms, to help spread awareness: 

https://linktr.ee/sunjourhc

BPH and TCM: A Natural Remedy in Prostate Enlargement

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the use and practice of plants, herbs and natural ingredients to help treat ailments and reduce symptoms, all with the goal of improving health. People who are open to natural treatments may believe that there is less risk associated and less side effects. There may also be a motivation of reduced cost when considering natural treatments. Whatever the reason may be, even before the dawn of modern medicine, herbs were used by people around the world. 

We think that TCM, if studied and given more credibility, then men who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), especially during the mild stages, may find good health support. BPH is another term for enlarged prostate, and it is usually associated with frequent urination, getting up many times at night for the bathroom, struggle to start and stop urinating, dribbling, sensation of urine remaining after emptying, and sexual dysfunction. In more extreme cases, kidney damage, stones, and complete inability to urinate (complete blockage of the urethra) may occur. 

The skepticism with traditional Chinese medicine stems from a number of reasons, such as lack of evidence, inconsistent formulas among different brands, lack of clinical testing, low quality control, etc. This does not apply to all companies who are in the nutraceutical/supplement business, but when some rotten apples cut corners, it gives a negative image on the industry as a whole. 

Word of mouth and established trust may motivate people to give TCM a try. Just as UMOOZE performed well in a clinical trial for BPH, we hope that more attention can be paid to ingredients like astragalus and soy to see if more men can benefit from the health properties in service to managing BPH symptoms and improving quality of life. Let's find more ways to safely consider TCM in the healthy lifestyles of men with BPH!    

Lower Incidence Rate of Prostate Enlargement (BPH) in Asian Men

The month of may is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This is a time to celebrate the achievements of the Asian community as well as promote more inclusivity and diversity that openly welcomes the participation of people with Asian descent in the workplace, in our media, in our healthcare, and more. The experiences, insight, and work contributed by the Asian community has strengthened and expanded the multicultural fabric of many countries around the world. One area we want to explore in particular is the reception of traditional Chinese medicine. Many people have sought natural alternatives or complementary solutions to the management of health ailments. In Asia, herbal remedies and plant based therapies have been well received for generations to help with a variety of conditions. This includes a condition we passionately write about in our blogs, BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). This is a condition that commonly occurs in older men where the prostate gland increases in size, which may create issues within the urinary tract, including frequent urination, slow or poor urinary flow, sensation of residual urine, urges, trouble starting and stopping urination, pushing or forcing urine, etc. 

It also just so happens that Asian men have been found to have a lower incidence rate of BPH. Some have suggested diet has a role because of soy, which is somewhat of a staple in Asian cuisine, as well as a balanced diet more inclusive of plant based nutrition. It could be that the prostate is growing at a slower rate in Asian men, or that they feel the symptoms less intensely due to an effective lifestyle management. Herbs such as astragalus, which support immune function, may also help. This was found in a clinical trial for the plant based supplement UMOOZE with astragalus and soy extracts in a study for men with BPH.  

All in all, if you have been interested in exploring natural solutions to mild BPH that can be safely implemented alongside a healthy lifestyle you may look to the Asian men's health community for potential support! 

Soy in Asian Diet = Less BPH?

Men may start to experience BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) as early as their 40s, and the older they get, the more likely it is to manifest (about 90% of men in their 80s and 90s). Not only is aging a risk factor to BPH, but also poor nutrition (over-consumption of red meat and foods high in fat), little to no physical activity, family/genetic history, and higher levels of DHT, which may be better known as a risk factor in balding. BPH is the medical term for prostate enlargement, where men may experience frequent urination especially at night, slow urinary flow when relieving oneself, sexual dysfunction, etc. 

However, it is found that Asian men have lower incidence rates of BPH compared to western men. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, one proposed reason that Asian men have lower incidences of BPH and prostate health issues overall could be due to the consumption of soy and plant based foods in their nutritional diet. Soy contains isoflavones like genistein and daidzein (fun fact, the Japanese word for soy is daizu, which kind of looks like daidzein). These isoflavones could have a positive effect by reducing the processes that accelerate prostate cell proliferation (an increase in prostate cells). This could reduce the risk of cell division errors that lead to other prostate conditions.  

What we all want to know is whether soy could in fact help reduce BPH. Currently in Clinicaltrials.gov, the only study with positive results for the use of soy in helping BPH patients is for UMOOZE. There is also a study on pumpkin seeds, soy germ and cranberry mix for the support of BPH symptoms, but the results were not published. If UMOOZE could help men with BPH, then we should encourage the continued study of soy in men's diets for reducing the incidence rate of BPH. 

Let's continue to spread awareness and encourage more research on BPH! 

Immunity's Role in Prostate Enlargement (BPH)

A 2007 study suggests that BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate enlargement) is a condition related to immunity deregulation and inflammation. Other prostate conditions including prostatitis may cause inflammation to the prostate. When the immune system is compromised due to stress or attacking itself, this could have negative consequences to many parts of the body, including the prostate. This is why it is important for men to care for their immune systems as a holistic approach to the management of prostate enlargement.

Symptoms of prostate enlargement include but are not limited to:
- frequent urination, especially at night
- sexual dysfunction
- struggle to start and stop urination
- slow urinary stream
- dribble at the end of urination

During this pandemic, talks about keeping your immune system strong have been discussed worldwide. Getting a good night's rest is important for your body to recover from a long day's work and have the strength to function at capacity the next day. When BPH patients have to get up several times a night to go to the bathroom, this could impede a good night's rest and compromise the immune system's recovery period during rest. So you see, immunity and prostate enlargement are somewhat interrelated, kind of like how dental and oral health are interrelated to heart health.

For BPH patients, it may be necessary to manage not only urinary symptoms but also their immune health as they find ways to get a longer night's rest and less frequent bathroom trips. Traditional Chinese and herbal plant therapies to boost immunity, as well as a good balanced nutrition plan and safely practiced physical activity may be of support.

Pelvic floor exercises may also support the urinary urges that are associated with BPH to support retention and ease of urinary flow. However, any decisions you make regarding herbal plant therapy, your nutrition, and exercises activities should be consulted with a medical professional to ensure you are not affecting any other existing conditions or putting yourself at unnecessary risk.

For example. astragalus or huang qi has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for benefits such as immune boosting, anti inflammation and for its anti oxidant properties. Inflammation that appears in the body could be a sign that your immune system is fighting an infection or even itself. That's why it's important for a doctor to consult with you what's happening in your specific case.

More research on how soy could benefit the immune system should also be encouraged in the prostate health sphere, because men in Asia who have soy as a staple in their nutrition could be one of the reasons why BPH has a lower incidence rate in Asian men compared to men around the world.

What do you do to boost your immunity?