Treatment of almost any disease is accompanied by certain dietary restrictions. This is necessary to relieve the diseased organ or simply to alleviate the condition and free up resources for healing. The diet for different diseases is different, as it is associated with the characteristics of the disease. Prostatitis is no exception and also requires certain dietary restrictions.
Is a diet necessary for prostatitis?
The prostate is an endocrine gland located below the bladder. It is crossed by a fragment of the urethra, into which the excretory ducts of the organ open. The prostate produces a secretion which is released during ejaculation. The latter contains enzymes, vitamins, immunoglobulins. Its task is to liquefy the ejaculate and create an environment conducive to preserving the vital activity of spermatozoa.
Prostatitis – inflammation of the prostate leads to a number of problems:
- the inflamed organ increases in size and puts pressure on the urethra, leading to difficulty urinating;
- for the same reason, intestinal function becomes difficult, which leads to constipation;
- with acute inflammation, the prostate is extremely painful and causes severe discomfort;
- with an infectious form, the organ turns into a focus for the spread of the disease and leads to general intoxication of the body;
- The enlarged organ puts pressure on blood vessels and impedes lymphatic drainage, contributing to blood stagnation. And this not only significantly aggravates the problem, but also causes other disturbances in the functioning of the pelvic organs;
- the prostate stops producing secretions in the required volume and quality. As a result, sperm die quickly in an unsuitable environment and the man loses the ability to fertilize;
- inflammation makes it difficult to eliminate secretions, so the ejaculation process itself becomes almost impossible and leads to impotence.
There are several forms of prostatitis: acute, chronic, infectious, congestive, their symptoms are very different. However, in any case, the disease must be treated with modern drugs and in no case should it be ignored. The doctor will determine which diet will be most effective for one form or another.
Plus, dieting helps and here’s why. Any inflamed tissue is sensitive to the factors that act on it.
So, food has a direct effect on the stomach, since some of its components strongly irritate the mucous membrane, while others do not. And urine has a huge influence on the condition of the bladder: its functionality depends on its composition.
The prostate is affected by the composition of the blood, which ultimately is also determined by the food consumed and the way food is digested. This is the proximity of the intestines: if the latter work with an additional load, the consumed food causes constipation, then the already irritated organ will have an additional impact. And this worsens the condition of the organ and contributes to the development of pain.
A correctly selected diet can minimize the impact on the prostate, which significantly speeds up and facilitates the treatment process.
Diet goals
The goal of the diet is to eliminate all possible factors leading to irritation of the organ in men. In fact, there are not many restrictions, but they must be followed with all possible caution.
- The main goal of the diet is to reduce irritation. The latter is ensured by the consumption of foods that affect the gastrointestinal tract - from the stomach to the intestines. The fact is that the organ is located in close proximity to the intestines, and when the latter are irritated and inflamed, it also becomes inflamed.
There are many reasons for poor gut health. For example, carbonated water, which irritates the mucous membranes of all organs of the gastrointestinal tract, which therefore leads to a negative effect on the prostate. Smoked, salty and spicy foods are also very irritating to the intestines. In addition, smoked and salted meat makes it difficult to work, which in itself leads to constipation.
- Blood composition – digested food ultimately leads to a change in composition. And if there are irritating components in the blood, it is the one that has the most negative effect on the prostate. Example: The breakdown of aldehydes after drinking alcohol significantly worsens inflammation.
Normalization of blood flow - due to compression of blood vessels, the process of blood supply to the organ is already disrupted. Blood stagnation significantly worsens the patient's condition. A diet that includes easily digestible foods helps normalize blood circulation.
- The composition of urine improves or worsens the condition of the prostate. The patient's daily diet should include at least 2 liters of clean water or weak tea. In this way, the concentration of salts in the urine is reduced. As a result, urine ceases to irritate the genitourinary organs.
This opinion is perceived negatively by patients suffering from increased nocturnal diuresis. In this case, it is recommended to drink more liquid in the morning and limit its consumption in the evening.
It is impossible to reduce the total volume of fluid: concentrated urine strongly irritates the prostate, which will lead to pain.
- Providing adequate nutrition – to restore the functioning of the organ as well as the immune system, sufficient amount of proteins and vitamins are required. The diet should be designed to meet this need.
As a rule, for prostatitis, the doctor prescribes dietary table No. 5. It was designed to spare the liver, but is suitable for almost all gastrointestinal or genitourinary conditions, in which the normal functioning of the body's biliary system is important.
Basic principles
The difference between the diet for chronic and acute prostatitis is due to the state of the organ itself.
In case of exacerbation of chronic prostatitis and acute inflammation, the diet should be followed very strictly. Not recommended products - alcohol, smoked meats, coffee, beans - should be completely excluded from the diet. Even a small part of them leads to a significant deterioration in the condition.
In chronic cases, restrictions are not followed as strictly. For example, alcohol is allowed - 1-2 glasses of dry wine or 1 liter of beer, but no more. It is allowed to eat rich broth, drink coffee - no more than one cup per day, eat pastries and spicy meat, but in small quantities. However, all of these hypotheses are only possible during the remission phase. In case of exacerbation of chronic prostatitis, it is necessary to return to the principles of nutrition in table No. 5 and strictly follow them until the inflammation heals.
The principles of diet in the treatment of prostatitis are as follows:
- sufficient protein and carbohydrate content. The norm for the first is 1. 5 g per 1 kg of body or at least 1 g per 1 kg of body. The amount of carbohydrates is calculated based on physical activity. It is important not to exceed this value, because excess glucose in the blood is an irritating factor;
- limited fat content, particularly of animal origin. They complicate and slow down digestion, which is unacceptable when the prostate is inflamed;
- The cooking method used is stewing, poaching in water and steaming. In this way, the maximum nutritional value of the product is maintained and the fat volume cannot be exceeded. It is strictly forbidden to fry flour and vegetables - this combination greatly irritates the intestines;
- Any foods high in purines or oxalic acid are not allowed. The same restrictions apply to spicy foods and seasonings - garlic, onions;
- products that can cause fermentation and gas formation in the intestines are excluded - beans and beans with soda water;
- it is necessary to limit the amount of salt - no more than 10 g, which includes not only the salt itself, but also its content in cooked products. This leads to water retention in the body, which, in turn, leads to a high concentration of salts in the urine, which is a powerful irritant;
- Stimulants are prohibited - coffee, strong tea, cocoa and chocolate. During the remission period, stimulants can be used in limited quantities;
- Be sure to have a large amount of fluid - water, decoction of rosehip and chamomile, juices diluted with water, very weak tea with lemon.
The body sometimes has great difficulty switching to a new way of eating. The trial period is considered to be 5 days. If during this time no adverse effects occur - indigestion, fermentation in the intestines, the diet is followed until complete recovery or until remission occurs.
If negative effects appear, then it is necessary to revise the menu: most likely, the diet contains a product to which there is an allergic reaction.
Menu for illness
The menu is as diverse as possible, not forgetting that the diet should include proteins - up to 80 g, fats - 80-90 g, carbohydrates - up to 400 g, of which at least 40 g should beinsoluble fiber.
The diet is designed for 2600-2800 kcal. If the patient is overweight, which aggravates prostatitis, the total calorie intake is reduced due to the decrease in fats and carbohydrates. Here is an example menu.
A day:
- Breakfast: steamed meatballs, buckwheat or semolina porridge, weak tea. During remission of chronic prostatitis, a cup of coffee is allowed.
- Second breakfast: dried fruits, apples or sweet berries. Fruits and berries are only recommended when very ripe and preferably baked or in the form of purees and jelly. You can supplement your diet with banana.
For chronic prostatitis, watermelon is allowed - no more than 2 pieces per day, melon and pineapple, but only in salads. - Lunch: vegetable soup, lean meat roll, dried fruit compote. During remission, you can consume weak meat broths and soups based on them.
- Afternoon snack: rosehip decoction, crackers. Turkish delight and even marshmallows are allowed, but only in chronic form and in small quantities.
- Dinner – vegetable cutlets, tea, biscuits.
Day 2:
- Breakfast: cottage cheese with a small amount of honey, oatmeal or buckwheat, cooked in a mixture of 50% water and 50% milk. During remission, porridge with milk is allowed.
- Second breakfast: baked apples, optional with honey.
- Lunch: vegetable soup with vegetable oil, boiled chicken, rice. Dried fruit compote.
- Afternoon snack: rosehip and chamomile decoction. If your condition is stable, you can eat fresh fruits or berries. You can also drink freshly squeezed juice. In case of exacerbation, the juice should be diluted with water.
- Dinner: boiled fish, mashed potatoes, tea.
It is strongly recommended to drink a glass of kefir or yogurt in the evening.
Authorized and prohibited products
In each category of products intended for patients with prostatitis, the following are permitted and prohibited:
| Name | Authorized products | Prohibited products |
|---|---|---|
| Beverages |
|
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| Soups |
|
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| Porridge |
|
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| Pasta |
|
|
| Meet fish |
|
|
| Bread |
|
|
| Fruits and berries |
|
|
| Eggs | Boiled eggs or in the form of omelets, no more than 2 pcs. day | Fried egg dishes |
| Oil |
|
|
| Sauces and seasonings |
|
|
| Soft |
|
|
| Milkman |
|
|
| Vegetables |
|
|
The inclusion of prohibited products in the menu during remission or after recovery is made depending on individual sensitivity and the intensity of the influence of this product. So, meat and fish broths, tomatoes and eggplants should be introduced first. And it is better to give up carbonated drinks and smoked foods forever, especially sausages.
Nutrition after recovery
Recovery means no pain, normal prostate function, normal ejaculation, no difficulty urinating and no side symptoms.
However, recovery, and especially the transition to a period of remission, does not mean that you can immediately return to your usual diet, especially if it is a return to consuming harmful foods.
The diet is gradually modified:
- Broths are introduced first, as they are easily digestible.
- Lean pork and beef are added, as well as fattier fish, especially salmon.
- The range of authorized vegetables is expanding: eggplant, spinach, tomatoes. Fresh fruits and berries are also added, but only sweet fruits.
- Among the baked goods, the most acceptable are cookies with various additives.
- Legumes are also added - beans, peas, but very gradually. The same goes for mushrooms.
- The sauces are introduced one by one. However, you should definitely ditch mayonnaise.
- Alcohol is allowed in moderation - 2 glasses of wine, a glass of vodka per day.
- You can add different types of cheeses, especially spicy cheeses.
- People start drinking coffee if they really have trouble tolerating its absence. No more than one cup of espresso per day is allowed.
- The situation is difficult with chocolate and cocoa. If it is difficult to give up forever, these products are added last and start with a simple milk cocoa.
- Carbonated drinks are prohibited with rare exceptions.
- Fried foods are introduced last and in limited quantities.
- The ban on smoked and salted fish and meat remains forever.
Depending on the patient's condition, it is possible to consume prohibited foods, but in very limited quantities. If the product causes intestinal irritation and causes prostate pain, this product should be abandoned permanently.
Diet is an excellent aid in the treatment of almost all diseases of non-infectious origin. The food you eat determines the composition of your blood and urine and provides you with necessary vitamins and proteins. So, a properly formulated diet can significantly speed up recovery.