Treatment of almost all diseases is accompanied by certain dietary restrictions. This is necessary to relieve the diseased organ or simply alleviate the condition and free up resources for healing. The diet for different ailments 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. A fragment of the urethra passes through it, where the organ's excretory ducts open. The prostate produces a secretion that is released during ejaculation. The latter contains enzymes, vitamins, immunoglobulins. Its task is to liquefy the ejaculate and create a suitable environment to preserve the vital activity of sperm.
Prostatitis – inflammation of the prostate gland leads to several problems:
- the inflamed organ increases in size and presses on the urethra, which makes urination difficult;
- for the same reason, intestinal functioning becomes difficult, which leads to constipation;
- in acute inflammation, the prostate becomes extremely painful and causes great discomfort;
- in the infectious form, the organ becomes a focus for the spread of the disease and leads to general intoxication of the body;
- The organ that increases in size puts pressure on the blood vessels and prevents lymphatic drainage, which contributes 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. Consequently, sperm in an unsuitable environment quickly die and the man loses the ability to fertilize;
- inflammation makes it difficult to remove secretions, so the ejaculation process itself becomes almost impossible and leads to impotence.
There are several different forms of prostatitis: acute, chronic, infectious, congestive, their symptoms are very different. However, in any case, the disease must be treated with modern medicines and in no case should it be ignored. The doctor will determine which diet will be most effective for one form or another.
Furthermore, following a diet turns out to be useful and here is why. Any inflamed tissue is sensitive to the factors that act on it.
Thus, food has a direct effect on the stomach, as some of its components strongly irritate the mucosa, while others do not. And urine has a great influence on the state 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 refers to the proximity of the intestine: if it works with additional load, the food ingested causes constipation, so 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 well-selected diet can minimize the impact on the prostate, which significantly speeds up and facilitates the treatment process.
Dietary goals
The purpose of the diet is to eliminate all possible factors that lead to organ irritation in men. In fact, there are not so many restrictions, but they must be followed with all possible care.
- The main purpose of the diet is to reduce irritation. The latter is ensured by consuming foods that affect the gastrointestinal tract - from the stomach to the intestine. The fact is that the organ is located close to the intestine and when it is 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 leads to a negative effect on the prostate gland. Smoked, salty and spicy foods also greatly irritate the intestines. In addition, smoked and salted meat makes work difficult, which in itself leads to constipation.
- Blood composition - digested food leads to a change in composition. And if there are irritating components in the blood, this will have the most negative effect on the prostate gland. Example: the degradation 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 disturbed. Blood stagnation significantly worsens the patient's condition. A diet that includes easily digestible foods helps to 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. Consequently, urine ceases to irritate the genitourinary organs.
This advice is perceived negatively by patients suffering from increased nocturnal diuresis. In this case, it is recommended to drink more fluids in the morning and limit them at night.
It is impossible to reduce the total volume of fluid: concentrated urine greatly irritates the prostate gland, which can cause pain.
- Provide adequate nutrition - to restore the functioning of the organ, as well as the immune system, a sufficient amount of proteins and vitamins are required. The diet must be designed to meet this need.
As a rule, for prostatitis, the doctor prescribes dietary table No. 5. It is designed to spare the liver, but it is suitable for almost all gastrointestinal or genitourinary diseases, 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 must be followed very strictly. Non-recommended products - alcohol, smoked meats, coffee, beans - must 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 observed 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 1 cup per day, eat baked goods and spicy meat, but in small quantities. However, all these assumptions are possible only in the remission phase. If chronic prostatitis worsens, it is necessary to return to the nutritional principles in table No. 5 and follow them exactly until the inflammation is cured.
The principles of the diet in the treatment of prostatitis are as follows:
- sufficient content of proteins and carbohydrates. 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 according to physical activity. It is important not to exceed this value, as excess blood glucose is an irritating factor;
- limited fat content, especially of animal origin. They complicate and slow down digestion, which is unacceptable when the prostate is inflamed;
- The cooking method used is stewing, blanching in water and steaming. This way, the maximum nutritional value of the product is maintained and the fat volume is not exceeded. It is strictly forbidden to fry flour and vegetables - this combination is very irritating to the intestines;
- Any foods high in purines or oxalic acid are not allowed. The same restrictions apply to spicy foods and seasonings - garlic, onion;
- products that can cause fermentation and gas formation in the intestine are excluded - from beans and beans to carbonated 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. Leads to fluid retention in the body, which in turn leads to a high concentration of salts in the urine, which is a strong irritant;
- Stimulants are prohibited - coffee, strong tea, cocoa and chocolate. During the period of remission, stimulants can be used in limited quantities;
- Make sure you have plenty of liquid - water, rosehip and chamomile decoctions, juices diluted with water, very weak tea with lemon.
The body sometimes has great difficulty switching to a new method of nutrition. The trial period is considered to be 5 days. If during this period no adverse effects occur - indigestion, fermentation in the intestines, the diet is followed until complete recovery or until remission occurs.
If negative effects appear, it is necessary to review the menu: most likely, the diet contains some product to which there is an allergic reaction.
Menu for illness
The menu is as diverse as possible, not forgetting that the diet must include proteins - up to 80 g, fats - 80-90 g, carbohydrates - up to 400 g, of which at least 40 g must be insoluble fiber.
The diet is designed for 2, 600–2. 800 kcal. If the patient is overweight, which aggravates prostatitis, total calorie intake is reduced due to less fat and carbohydrates. Here is an example menu.
1 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, apple or sweet fruits. Both fruits and berries are recommended only when they are very ripe and preferably roasted 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 as part of salads. - Lunch: vegetable soup, lean meat rolls, dried fruit compote. During remission, you can consume weak meat broths and soups based on them.
- Afternoon snack: rosehip decoction, cookies. Turkish delight and even marshmallows are allowed, but only in chronic form and in small quantities.
- Dinner – vegetable cutlets, tea, cookies.
Day 2:
- Breakfast: cottage cheese with a little 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 must be diluted with water.
- Dinner: boiled fish, mashed potatoes, tea.
It is highly recommended to drink a glass of kefir or yogurt at night.
Allowed and prohibited products
In each category of products for patients with prostatitis, the following are permitted and prohibited:
| Name | Authorized Products | Prohibited Products |
|---|---|---|
| Drinks |
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| Soups |
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| Porridge |
|
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| Pasta |
|
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| Fish meat |
|
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| 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 |
|
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| Sweet |
|
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| Dairy |
|
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| Vegetables |
|
|
The inclusion of prohibited products in the menu during remission or after recovery is made based on individual sensitivity and the intensity of the influence of this product. Therefore, meat and fish broth, tomatoes and eggplants should be introduced first. And it is better to abandon 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 secondary symptoms.
However, healing, 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 eating harmful foods.
The diet is changed gradually:
- Broths are introduced first, as they are easy to digest.
- Lean pork and beef are added, as well as fattier fish, especially salmon.
- The range of permitted vegetables is expanding - eggplant, spinach, tomatoes. Fresh fruits and berries are also added, but only sweet ones.
- Among bakery products, the most accepted are cookies with various additives.
- Legumes are also added - beans, peas, but very gradually. The same goes for mushrooms.
- Sauces are introduced one by one. However, you should give up mayonnaise forever.
- Alcohol is allowed in moderation - 2 glasses of wine, a glass of vodka per day.
- You can add different types of cheese, including spicy ones.
- People start drinking coffee if they really find it very difficult to tolerate its absence. No more than 1 cup of espresso per day is allowed.
- The situation is difficult with chocolate and cocoa. If it is difficult to give it up forever, these products are added last and start with simple cocoa with milk.
- 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 forever.
Diet is an excellent aid in the treatment of almost all diseases of non-infectious origin. The foods you eat determine the composition of your blood and urine and provide the necessary vitamins and proteins. Therefore, a properly formulated diet can significantly speed up recovery.