Can Saw Palmetto Berries Help The Prostate And Should You Be Taking It?

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by: vitanet1
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Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 Time: 12:56 PM
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The prostate gland is an important part of the male reproductive system. It is actively involved during functioning. Routine medical check-ups of men over the age of 45 unfortunately showed that nearly all of them have enlarged prostates due to prostatic nodules. These nodules form by the condensation of secretions inside the gland. In some cases, the nodules grow quite large and may block the flow of urine, making urination very painful. Thus, hormone-blocking drugs and plant extracts which can inhibit DHT hormone secretion or its actions can be recommended to slow the growth of prostatic nodules. One phytopharmaceutical agent which is widely used for centuries to maintain the health of the prostate gland is the Saw Palmetto Berry.

Saw Palmetto Berry is a medicinal plant of the palm family that originates in America. Also known as Serenoa repens or Sabal, this plant naturally grows in the southeastern part of the United States, specifically in the coastal area of South Carolina and Alabama, in certain areas of Georgia and Mississippi and throughout Florida, the state where Saw Palmetto is geographically abundant. The plant has a thick leaf stems which are lined with sharp, saw-like teeth, thus the name "saw" was derived. Its fruit matures and ripens with high humidity and heat, hence fruits usually develop on the month of August to September. After it is harvested, the berries will be processed into a large drying machine and then imported to extractors, mostly in Europe. After the extraction process, the extracts will be shipped back to the United States for further processes.

Saw Palmetto was presented to the medical community by Dr. J. Read from Savannah, Georgia, who published a meta-analysis report of his clinical experience with the plant in 1879. Further studies reveal that there are four known major categories of compounds in this plant, namely, Free Fatty Acids, Phytosterols, Free Fatty Alcohols and monolycerides. The active ingredients are the Free Fatty Acids and the Phytosterols. Though further studies are still on going, preliminary reports reveal that the mechanism of Saw Palmetto Berry includes the decrease of the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which facilitates prostatic secretion condensation, and the reduction of the action of Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF), which is significant in prostate growth and nodular development. In fact, IGF changes have been evidenced in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Saw Palmetto supplements in the market come in two preparations, dried berries and extracts. The extracts contain the actual compounds and the sufficient concentration that are effective in maintaining the health of the prostate gland. On the other hand, dried berries may provide with smaller quantities of the needed active ingredients. If you opt to take saw palmetto dried berries, you may need to ingest at least one or two grams a day. Experts' state that the ratio of dried berries to extracts is usually about 10 is to 1.

Generally, the effects of Saw Palmetto Berries supplement takes several weeks or months. The commonly suggested dosage of this supplement is 320 mg of a 80-90% extract or 640 mg of a 40-50% extract daily. The dose is usually split and taken two times a day. Look to your local or internet vitamin store for quality name brand saw palmetto berry extracts to ensure quality and purity of what you purchase for the prostate.

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