Keeping the prostate healthy is necessary as men age. Our centre for functional medicine in Toronto can tailor therapies to address prostate issues, which may help with symptoms such as incontinence and digestive issues.  

According to Harvard Medical School, “… most men will experience some kind of prostate problem during their lifetime.” The main conditions linked to the prostate are: prostatitis (when the prostate is inflamed); benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is when the gland is enlarged due to aging; and prostate cancer. 

Scientists agree that implementing healthy lifestyle modifications – such as eating organic food and getting regular exercise – may be helpful for reducing or preventing prostate concerns. This article from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre discusses: 

• • Information you might not have known about this gland;
  • Tips for improving your prostate based on the functional medicine model;
  • And how we apply a personalized medicine approach in our practice. 

Key Facts About Your Prostate

The prostate’s goal is to produce prostatic fluid, an element of semen that protects the survival of sperm. The prostate also contains muscles that drive semen into the urethra for ejaculation. Here are some additional facts to know about this critical gland: 

• • Due to the location of the prostate, issues with the gland can lead to urinary, reproductive, and digestive issues, potentially causing bladder stones and UTIs in men. 
  • Symptoms of prostate issues include: feeling like you have to urinate repeatedly, especially at night; painful urination and/or ejaculation; bloody semen and/or urine; pain surrounding the hips, rectum, pelvis, upper thighs and lower back. 
  • Testosterone – along with hormones from the adrenal and pituitary glands – control the functioning of the prostate. 
  • As the male body ages, the prostate naturally increases in size. In clinical terms, average prostate volume may grow from roughly 20–30 cubic centimeters (cc) in younger men to over 40 cc in older men, which can contribute to urinary and reproductive symptoms.
  • According to the American Cancer Society, “Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. About 6 in 10 prostate cancers are found in men older than 65.” Thus, understanding the role of your prostate may be advantageous for supporting long-term health needs.

7 Easy Functional Medicine Tips to Optimize Prostate Health 

There are several ways to help prevent or delay prostate problems – and you can even request to have a treatment plan personalized! Depending on your condition and lab results, functional medicine providers may make these suggestions to support your prostate: 

1. 1. Ditch the morning coffee for green tea: Get into the habit of drinking green tea. In a paper from Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, the differences between green and black teas were compared. It was found that green tea contains superior amounts of polyphenols compared to black tea, which means that green tea could impede the development of prostate cancer. 
   2. Book an acupuncture appointment: Further research is needed, though this Chinese medicine treatment may be helpful for dealing with prostate inflammation. In a meta-analysis from Pain Research & Management, acupuncture was found to positively impact the symptoms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), while improving the quality of life. 
   3. Adopt a physical activity regime: Being sedentary for 6–8 hours daily can augment your prostate cancer risks. If you’ve been itching to try wall climbing or ultimate frisbee, sign up now! “Studies have suggested associations between greater amounts of physical activity and decreased prostate cancer risk as well as improved metabolic health after a prostate cancer diagnosis,” says the Institute for Functional Medicine.
   4. Embrace the Mediterranean Diet: This plant-based diet embraces anti-inflammatory veggies, healthy fats, and fish, and may be supportive for preventing several types of health concerns. According to a Cancer journal study, the Mediterranean Diet has demonstrated promising effects in delaying disease progression in men diagnosed with prostate cancer.    
   5. Eat tomatoes or take a lycopene supplement: Lycopene is a carotenoid with antioxidant properties, and it can be sourced from tomatoes or supplements. Findings have shown that “…lycopene not only enhances the antioxidant response of prostate cells, but that it is even able to inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis and decrease the metastatic capacity of prostate cancer cells,” reports an International Journal of Molecular Sciences piece. 
   6. Boost zinc levels: The prostate contains significant amounts of zinc. When men chronically lack zinc, it can boost the risks for forming BPH, especially if men are over age 50. Zinc levels can be enhanced by eating chicken and pumpkin seeds; by taking supplements; or from getting a custom-made IV drip. (Quick tip: Are you already a regular visitor in our IV Lounge? Then ask us how to enhance your hydration, too! Read the next point to learn.) 
   7. Stay hydrated: Book yourself a hydrating IV drip or keep refilling your water bottle. When you’re optimally hydrated, your urine is less concentrated and this can reduce the risks for bladder irritations. Drink H20 or coconut water throughout the day – limit your caffeine intake, as coffee may exacerbate prostate problems. 

Most of all, regular physical exams and laboratory testing is critical for the prostate and healthy longevity. Functional medicine practitioners can recommend key tests to determine if you’re at risks for prostate issues. For example, our clinicians may recommend testing PSA levels. PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is a type of protein that the prostate creates; examining these levels can help detect prostate issues before they worsen. Other tests linked to the prostate can also be conducted; these may include DUTCH testing for measuring testosterone levels, or a comprehensive stool test to scrutinize digestive issues. Taking a comprehensive approach to your wellness may be valuable for relieving symptoms and preventing/delaying prostate difficulties. 

Suggested reading: The Harm of Dismissing Health Concerns: A Toronto Functional Medicine Report

Experience a Personalized Medicine Approach to Health Today

If you need to resolve chronic fatigue, erectile dysfunction, or urinary concerns, we have news – our Toronto area functional medicine clinic is booking sessions for new patients!

By adhering to the functional medicine model, we can customize a wide variety of treatment options for your biology. We do not compare you to other patients; we dissect the core components of your individuality, which allows us to treat you as a ‘whole’ person. 

Our functional lab tests are beneficial for providing us with meticulous insights, as some conventional tests may not capture minute details. Our laboratory testing services can examine specific elements of your health, such as gut microbes, the presence of environmental toxins, hormone imbalances, and more. We then take your lab results and match them with several adapted treatment options, including detoxification therapies (i.e. IV therapy), Western and naturopathic medicine, holistic nutrition herbal supplementation, and more. 

Our clinicians can also customize adjunct IV drips with key nutrients, including vitamin C, glutathione, and a variety of amino acids. IV therapy is designed to provide you with direct nutrient delivery, guaranteeing a complete absorption of nutrients. Each drip session is closely supervised by our wellness team, and when these treatments are combined with healthy lifestyle factors and formal health interventions (i.e. evidence-based treatments), they can potentially foster health promotion. 

We offer a wide variety of custom therapies for men, including hormone optimization programs and intravenous drips for sports recovery. Enhance your health journey today! Click here to request your appointment with the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre.  

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

“5 Ways to Protect Your Prostate” from Men’s Health magazine, published January 14, 2019, viewed on June 7, 2025. 

Abrams DI. An Integrative Approach to Prostate Cancer. J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Sep/Oct;24(9-10):872-880. doi: 10.1089/acm.2018.0169. PMID: 30247964.

Foerster B, Pozo C, Abufaraj M, et al. Association of Smoking Status With Recurrence, Metastasis, and Mortality Among Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer Undergoing Prostatectomy or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Oncol. 2018;4(7):953–961. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.1071

Franco JV, Turk T, Jung JH, Xiao YT, Iakhno S, Garrote V, Vietto V. Non-pharmacological interventions for treating chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 May 12;5(5):CD012551. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012551.pub3. PMID: 29757454; PMCID: PMC6494451.

Gregg, Justin R., et al. “Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Grade Group Progression in Localized Prostate Cancer: An Active Surveillance Cohort.” Cancer, vol. 127, no. 5, 2021, pp. 720-728, https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33182. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.

Henning SM, Wang P, Heber D. Chemopreventive effects of tea in prostate cancer: green tea versus black tea. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2011 Jun;55(6):905-20. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201000648. Epub 2011 May 2. PMID: 21538852; PMCID: PMC3163457.

Holzapfel, Nina P., et al. “The Potential Role of Lycopene for the Prevention and Therapy of Prostate Cancer: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Evidence.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 14, no. 7, 2013, p. 14620, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms140714620. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.

InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. In brief: How does the prostate work? [Updated 2022 Sep 15]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279291/

“Lifestyle Approaches to Optimize Prostate Health and Reduce Cancer Risk” from the Institute for Functional Medicine, updated March 27, 2025, viewed on June 7, 2025. 

Oh, Subin, et al. “A Combination of Natural Products, BenPros (Green Tea Extract, Soybean Extract and Camellia Japonica Oil), Ameliorates Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.” Applied Sciences, vol. 12, no. 12, 2022, p. 6121, https://doi.org/10.3390/app12126121. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

Pan, Juanhong, et al. “Acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Pain Research & Management, vol. 2023, 2023, p. 7754876, https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7754876. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.

“Prostate Cancer Risk Factors” from the American Cancer Society, viewed on June 7, 2025. 

“Prostate health” from Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing, posted on January 21, 2022, viewed on June 7, 2025. 

Sauer AK, Vela H, Vela G, Stark P, Barrera-Juarez E, Grabrucker AM. Zinc Deficiency in Men Over 50 and Its Implications in Prostate Disorders. Front Oncol. 2020 Aug 6;10:1293. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01293. PMID: 32850402; PMCID: PMC7424038.

“Understanding Prostate Changes and Conditions” from the National Cancer Institute (NIH), updated May 8, 2024, viewed on June 7, 2025.