Enlarged prostate as a common cause of nighttime urination in men over 50

Dr. Steven Gundry, an American physician, low-carbohydrate diet author, and former cardiothoracic surgeon, gave an in-depth analysis into the reason why we must stop waking up in the night to go and pee. He postulated that the common cause of men getting up to pee at night, particularly in men over 50. An enlarged prostate gland is the most common cause, with 50% of men over 50 having an enlarged prostate and 80% of men 70 and older. One in nine men will deal with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include getting up once or twice at night to go pee, but most often during this process, the bladder is not completely empty.

Gundry explains that an enlarged prostate is not normal as you age, as it is due to leaky gut, intestinal permeability, and inflammation in the prostate. He shares a personal example of a man who stopped seeding his prostate with bacteria and bacterial particles, LPSs, and the inflammation died down. It means that there are some foods we eat that contains certain bacterial or bacterial particles which enhances the enlargement of the prostate. To deal with an enlarged prostate, Gundry recommends changing your diet and eliminating leaky gut.

Leaky gut is an abnormal condition which involves an injury of the membrane wall of the small intestine. This damage facilitates the passage of undigested food particles, poisons, and germs through the intestines, therefore enabling their entry into the circulation.

Supplements and foods that feed friendly bacteria are also recommended, but they do not directly impact the underlying cause of the issue. Avoiding grain products, beans, and nightshade vegetables which are Tomatoes, Peppers, eggplants and white potatoes can help.

Dr. Gundry further assert that the causes of irritable bladder in women, which can be attributed to various factors such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and E. coli strains found in factory-farmed chicken. E. coli colonizes the rectum, causing bladder irritation and infection. To prevent these bacteria from colonizing the bladder, he recommends taking cranberry juice with a compound called D-Mannose, which coats E. coli and prevents them from establishing a biofilm.

However, some women and men also have irritable bladder that is not related to UTIs. One example is the sensitivity of many patients to a type of lectin called aquaporins, which are present in potatoes, white potatoes, spinach, corn, soybeans, tomatoes, bell peppers, and tobacco. These nightshades can cause bladder irritation, especially in female patients who are big fans of spinach, French fries, or baked potatoes.

To combat this, he advised people to eliminate peeled and deseeded tomatoes, peppers, tomato sauces, and tomato paste from their diets. Additionally, they suggest avoiding certain foods like spinach, French fries, and popcorn for those with irritable bladders.

If these symptoms do not resolve the issue, other potential causes include congestive heart failure, swelling in the feet or lower legs, and excessive water or alcohol consumption. To address these issues, stretching and exercising before bedtime, and avoiding water consumption before bedtime is important.

They are various strategies to help people with sleep apnea, including staying up after drinking alcohol, using an Oura ring. The Oura Ring is a smart ring designed to track various aspects of your health and wellness. These includes:

• Activity Monitoring: Tracks your daily activity levels, including steps, calories burned, and various types of exercises
• Heart Rate Monitoring: Measures your resting heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and even your heart rate during workouts
• Temperature Tracking: Monitors your nighttime skin temperature trends, which can help detect early signs of illness
• Stress and Recovery: Provides insights into how well your body recovers from stress and physical activity

D-mannose: It is a type of simple sugar related to glucose. It naturally occurs in various fruits like cranberries, apples, and peaches, as well as in some plants and trees. One of its notable uses is in the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs). D-mannose works by preventing certain bacteria, particularly E. coli, from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract, which helps reduce the risk of infection. And not having heavy meals or alcohol before going to sleep, many people are woken up by sleep apnea due to hypoxic conditions.

Dr. Gundry advises against the use of raw honey or MCT oil, as it contains fructose and may have prebiotics and probiotics. He also mentions the importance of sleeping on the left side of the stomach, as it traps air in the fundus and causes hiccups. He further said the use big pillows, or devices that assist you to sleep on your left side, even the use of trained dogs that don’t wake up in the middle of the night to go pee, could help.

Another solution recommended for an healthy sleeping is listening to your spouse, if she tell you you’re snoring. Sleep apnea can be a physiologic issue, as cortisol, the arousal hormone, rises around four o’clock in the morning to prepare for the morning and mobilize sugar. Dogs can help get you up around sunrise, making it a good time to wake up.

In summary, Dr. Gundry emphasizes the importance of staying up after drinking alcohol, using Oura rings, trying D-mannose, and avoiding heavy meals and alcohol before going to sleep.