The dangerous new side effect linked to prostate drugs

Men: If you suffer with an enlarged prostate—also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—then you are likely all too aware that mainstream’s go-to solution is prescription drugs.

And as Dr. Marc Micozzi highlights in his Insider’s Ultimate Guide to Perfect Prostate Health, these drugs come with dangerous side effects, such as erectile dysfunction, low blood pressure, nausea, weakness, weight gain, low sex drive, and depression.

But now new research shows that we can add another ominous side effect to that list: Type 2 diabetes.

A team of UK researchers analyzed health records of 55,000 men who had used various BPH drugs for 11 years. And they came to a startling conclusion: Two of the drugs significantly increase diabetes risk. Finasteride (Proscar®) had a 26 percent increased risk, while Dutasteride (Avodart®) produced a 30 percent increase in diabetes risk.

Alarming research like this is exactly why Dr. Micozzi believes you should avoid taking a drug for this condition at all costs. Instead, he recommends trying natural solutions. To start, he suggests making a few simple lifestyle modifications:

  • Avoid prolonged sitting. This can irritate your prostate.
  • Drink more water and stay hydrated (with rooibos—also known as aspal). When this herb is brewed into a tea, it can help flush bacteria out of your urinary tract. Dr. Micozzi recommends 100 ounces daily.
  • Limit foods that make your pH more acidic. Sugar, grains, and other acidic foods may irritate your bladder.
  • Practice mind-body therapies like biofeedback and acupuncture. These have been found to help relax the bladder muscles.

In addition, Dr. Micozzi also recommends adding garlic to your diet.

Garlic contains allicin, which has many positive effects as an antioxidant, trapping free radicals. It also helps to rid the body of toxins, improving liver function.

Allicin in garlic also seems to show antibacterial and antiviral properties. The studies on garlic and BPH are particularly impressive. In fact, one recent study found that a diet high in garlic lowers the risk of BPH by 28 percent.

Other foods that seem to help prevent BPH include:

  • Avocados
  • Bell peppers
  • Berries
  • Broccoli
  • Citrus
  • Nuts
  • Onions
  • Salmon
  • Tomatoes

If you’re coping with BPH or trying to prevent this uncomfortable condition, you’ll find more non-drug strategies in Dr. Micozzi’s Insider’s Ultimate Guide to Perfect Prostate Health.

Click here to get started today, or to learn more about Dr. Micozzi’s unique approach in caring for your prostate.

SOURCES

“Incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in men receiving steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors: population-based cohort study.” BMJ 2019; 365:l1204. doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l1204