All three medications have the power to hinder prostate enlargement in the first place, to shrink an enlarged prostate over time, and to avoid that a shrunk prostate will enlarge again. This is evident primarily from the observation that these medications can help men to have an easier time passing urine. Nutritional factors play a certain role in prostate health. Tomatoes and watermelon are foods that can help protect against prostate cancer because they are rich in the cartenoid lycopene. Foods high in polyunsaturated fats such as fish have been associated with a reduced risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Seafoods have a positive effect on the prostate because the usually high content of zinc.
Zinc is a trace element especially important for the prostate. Additionally, soy-based foods have been recommended to keep dihydrotestosterone in check. However, it has to be noted that soy foods have considerable phytoestrogenic power, and it has been theorized that, in spite of being healthy for the prostate, they may have a negative effect on male sexuality. The success in the sale of saw palmetto as replacement for Proscar has partially been attributed to the claim that saw palmetto doesn't interfere with sexual functions in the same way Proscar often does. There are still many unanswered questions regarding the use of saw palmetto and even more so, regarding the use of pygeum africanum.