05 Feb All About Saw Palmetto

This is the time of year where celebrating with family and friends usually includes eating too much, drinking too much, and skipping your workouts. The combination of those three things can lead to weight gain, cholesterol issues, and overall bad health. For older men, it can also lead to issues with prostate health, such as pain, inflammation and urinary issues. To help men
maintain healthy prostate function, nature offers a number of herbs, such as saw palmetto, that will help most men get through this time of year happy and healthy.

The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system, roughly the size of a walnut, below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The function of the prostate is in providing fluid to semen that carries the sperm from the testicles upon ejaculation. A part of the aging process for men is an enlarged prostate. By the time you reach the age of 60 your prostate may have gone from the size of a walnut, to the size of a lemon. This can cause issues because the prostate envelopes the urethra and can put pressure on it, making it difficult to urinate.

Saw palmetto is a blue to black colored berry from a palm-like tree, native to the southeastern United States and West Indies. Their therapeutic benefits can be traced back to early colonization when American settlers used the berries for urinary and prostate support. Current research has cited that as the prostate becomes problematic or overly enlarged, saw palmetto supports it because the berries contain sugars — polysaccharides — that may contain properties that modulate inflammation in the prostate. Other active compounds of interest are plant sterols, flavonoids, and fatty acids.

An important finding in saw palmetto is found within the reduction of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, being wonderful for supporting the prostate by converting the hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a power player in men’s health as it supports the prostate, libido, and in preventative hair loss. When saw palmetto is consumed or supplemented you may be able to reduce these common health issues that are seen in older middle-aged men.

The main androgens (male hormones) are testosterone and DHT, with DHT being the primary influencer hormone that signals the prostate to grow.

As saw palmetto is researched more and more information is coming out on the supportive benefits of this plant. Below are some common issues it can assist with:

Hair loss – Saw palmetto can aid in hair loss prevention, because it keeps testosterone levels in harmony. As men age, their testosterone levels decrease and DHT increases, sometimes causing hair loss as it shrinks the follicle that results in decreased hair production. In normal hair growth, after hair falls out more will start growing, but increased DHT levels prevents this from happening. Saw palmetto is helpful because it supports balanced testosterone levels from converting to DHT, so hair growth is still achievable.

Supports symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BHP) – A form of an enlarged prostate is also known as BHP, and as we know, the prostate becomes larger and sometimes more inflamed as men age. When the urethra is hugged tightly by the prostate, this can result in difficulty urinating, bladder infections, and bladder stones. BHP can promote a swing in hormones, including an estrogen surplus, blood vessel concerns, and vitamin deficiencies.

Saw palmetto supports this condition by working with testosterone inhibition and helping to balance out the prostatic enlargement.

Testosterone balance – As we know, saw palmetto inhibits the conversion of testosterone to DHT, so testosterone levels are balanced. You may see benefits in libido, pain response, and weight management.

This small, yet powerful, berry has been used for centuries in men’s health to improve symptoms related to the prostate and urinary tract. Saw palmetto is also great for hormone modulation related to hair loss. If you’re struggling with prostate health, try HP8: Healthy Prostate Support today. In this formula you’ll enjoy the benefits of saw palmetto in addition to licorice root, willow herb, bromelain, and many other dynamic ingredients.