Reversing an Enlarged Prostate: The Role of Insulin

In this controversial video, Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician with 20 years of experience, discusses the hormonal factors involved in enlarged prostate (or BPH) and presents seven easy steps to reverse the condition. He emphasizes that insulin, not testosterone or estrogen, is the hormone predominantly responsible for prostate enlargement, as it binds to growth signals in the prostate. Dr. Berry advises avoiding sugar, grains, soy, low-fat dairy, and vegetable seed oils, while following a low-carbohydrate diet and practicing intermittent fasting. He also mentions the use of supplements like saw palmetto, nettle root, and pumpkin seed extract. Research studies are provided as evidence.

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Key Insights:

  • An enlarged prostate, also known as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), is primarily caused by hormones, specifically insulin.
  • Hormones play a significant role in prostate problems, with insulin being the hormone responsible for 80% of enlarged prostate issues.
  • Eating a diet that maintains low insulin levels for most of the day is crucial in reversing an enlarged prostate.
  • Seven steps to follow for a low insulin diet include avoiding sugar, grains, soy products, low-fat dairy, vegetable seed oils, and consuming a low carbohydrate diet while practicing intermittent fasting.
  • While prescription medications can help alleviate symptoms, they don’t address the root cause of chronic hyperinsulinemia.
  • A low testosterone to estrogen ratio increases the risk of an enlarged prostate, but testosterone itself does not cause prostate enlargement.
  • Supplements like saw palmetto, nettle roots, and pumpkin seed extract may provide some relief for enlarged prostate symptoms.

Transcript

An enlarged prostate, also known as BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia, affects millions of men worldwide. The symptoms of an enlarged prostate are very obvious to those who suffer from it. Research has found that hormones play a major role in this condition, but it’s not the hormone that is commonly associated with it. Insulin, a hormone involved in 80% of prostate problems, is primarily responsible for causing an enlarged prostate.

As a family physician with 20 years of clinical experience, I want to share with you the seven easy steps to reverse your enlarged prostate. Before we dive into the steps, I must warn you that this video may be controversial with urologists and other healthcare providers who specialize in prostate health. However, I have included several research studies in the show notes below to support what I’m saying.

So, let’s move on to the seven steps.

Step 1: Avoid all sugar in your diet, including added sugar in drinks and desserts, as well as natural sugar found in high-sugar fruits like grapes, bananas, cherries, papaya, and pineapple. Sugar causes hyperinsulinemia, where insulin levels in your blood are consistently high. This excess insulin binds to a receptor for igf-1, initiating the growth and multiplication of prostate cells. Over time, this leads to an enlarged prostate and urinary problems.

Step 2: Stay away from all grains, including whole-grain bread. When you consume grains, the starch in them is broken down into sugar by an enzyme called amylase. This raises your blood sugar levels, triggering hyperinsulinemia, which contributes to an enlarged prostate.

Step 3: Avoid soy products, as they contain phytoestrogens that can disrupt your testosterone to estrogen ratio, leading to further prostate enlargement.

Step 4: Opt for full-fat dairy products instead of low-fat options. Low-fat dairy can worsen prostate symptoms, while full-fat choices like heavy cream, butter, and ghee may be better tolerated. Each individual’s response to dairy may vary.

Step 5: Steer clear of vegetable seed oils, as they have an imbalanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, which can promote inflammation, including in the prostate.

Step 6: Follow a low-carbohydrate diet, such as a ketogenic or carnivore diet, to maintain low-normal insulin levels throughout the day. This will help prevent prostate hyperplasia.

Step 7: Practice intermittent fasting, abstaining from eating for 14 to 18 hours a day. This helps reset your insulin levels to a low-normal range and reduces prostate growth signals.

Implementing these seven steps can lead to an 80% reduction in prostate problems. However, it’s important to note that changes in diet won’t show immediate results. It may take several months or even a year for the prostate to return to its normal size. The focus here is on stopping the signal of inappropriate growth caused by chronic hyperinsulinemia.

Prescription medications can help alleviate symptoms but do not address the root cause. They may come with a list of side effects. Additionally, maintaining a healthy testosterone to estrogen ratio is essential, but testosterone itself does not cause an enlarged prostate. As men age, testosterone levels naturally decline, and a high-carbohydrate diet can further worsen the estrogen to testosterone ratio.

Lastly, some people find relief from enlarged prostate symptoms by taking supplements like saw palmetto, nettle root, or pumpkin seed extract. However, the effectiveness may vary among individuals.

Remember, the root cause of an enlarged prostate is chronic hyperinsulinemia. The research studies supporting this information are available in the show notes for you to share with your doctor if needed.

If you found this video helpful, please subscribe to my channel and hit the notification bell to be updated on future videos. If you’d like to support my work, you can also check out my Patreon link in the show notes. Thank you for watching, and I’ll see you next time.