It seems that any talk these days on prostate health quickly leads to beta sitosterol. What exactly is beta sitosterol and why do people consider it to be the rising star in prostate healthcare?
According to the American Urological Association, an enormous number of men over the age of 50 are prone to poor prostate health. Heredity, ethnicity and diet are considered to be factors that may be linked to poor prostate health. There are no permanent solutions to poor prostate health. In fact, many of the solutions offered are at best temporary and may have serious potential side effects. In contrast, a nutritional supplement containing well-researched herbs, such as beta sitosterol, is now being considered a better option to support prostate health, especially aging prostate health.
Beta sitosterol is a plant sterol found in many common fruits and vegetables, but is especially abundant in plants that produce oil such as stinging nettle, saw palmetto and pygeium africanum. Natural food sources that are rich in beta sitosterol are rice bran, wheat germ, corn oils, soybeans, pecans, and peanuts.
Way back in civilization, the Native Americans used to eat saw palmetto whenever they had troubles with uro-genital health. European settlers used extracts from the saw palmetto fruit. There are several important research studies and clinical trials that link beta sitosterol to inhibiting the growth of an aging prostate and alleviating its discomforts.
Research on plant sterols began way back in 1922 and has further developed over the years. Beta sitosterol was found in pumpkin seeds and studied for its role in prostate health. Over decades of research it is believed that beta sitosterol helps to inhibit the growth of prostate cells that lead to an aging prostate. Research also indicates its benefits to uro-genital health and its role in alleviating the discomforts of an aging prostate.
In 1999, researchers discovered that beta sitosterol may help to inhibit cholesterol absorption in the digestive system. Beta sitosterol's compounds closely resemble cholesterol. While cholesterol is derived from animals, beta sitosterol is derived from plant sources. Research indicates that beta sitosterol may inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the body and thus promote healthy cholesterol levels. Beta sitosterol is now being used to fortify certain brands of margarine and cereals. Beta-sitosterol-fortified foods are here to stay, but in order for beta sitosterol to have any impact on uro-genital and prostate health, at least 300 mg of pure beta sitosterol should be consumed, according to research.
There has been an increase in the use of beta sitosterol as a dietary supplement especially to support and protect prostate health which is a rising concern amongst American men.
The Europeans were the first to validate the therapeutic use of beta sistoserol. For the past twenty years, European doctors have been prescribing beta sitosterol to their patients with successful results.
Since the process for approval of new drugs is much slower in the United States, beta sitosterol is made available through prostate supplements under the dietary supplement category. You should look out for pure beta sitosterol supplements that also contain other minerals and vitamins known to maintain prostate health. Super Beta Prostate contains 250 mg of pure beta sitosterol derived from quality plant sources along with other nutrients for nutritional support of prostate health. If you are prone to poor prostate health, you may want to consider taking prostate supplements when you reach your forties as a preventive measure. Men in their fifties and plus may find relief from aging prostate discomfort through nutritional support. Beta sitosterol helps promote healthy urinary flow and prostate functions.
