Saw palmetto extract is derived from the berries of Serenoa repens, palm trees. This shrublike palm is native to the Southeastern area of the U.S.
Historically, the berries and their extracts have been used in traditional medicine to support male and female reproductive health. Today, saw palmetto is used to support prostate and urinary tract health to help reduce occasional symptoms associated with normal aging.
Saw palmetto helps to promote prostate health by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a hormone that can promote prostate cells to grow. By inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to DHT, saw palmetto may support overall prostate health. Additionally, saw palmetto may have antioxidant properties that can help reduce oxidative stress in the prostate gland.
Possible Benefits for Prostate Health and Urinary Function
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland vital for proper male reproductive system function and urinary tract health. As part of normal aging, the prostate continues to grow. Due to its anatomical position, men can experience common urinary symptoms associated with this normal aging.
It is important for men to support prostate cell function and hormone levels to maintain quality of life. Saw palmetto helps to support prostate, bladder, and urinary tract health. By maintaining healthy prostate cell function and hormone levels, saw palmetto:
♦ Supports healthy prostate cell growth
♦ Helps reduce occasional urinary symptoms associated with normal aging
♦ Promotes normal nighttime urination schedule
♦ Helps with frequent bathroom breaks
♦ Promotes healthy bladder emptying, urgency, and stream
Recommended Dosage
Saw palmetto is readily available as a supplement, so it is easy to add to your daily routine. Available as capsules, tablets, or a softgel, saw palmetto is usually blended with other ingredients known to support whole-body health. You can also find saw palmetto as dried powder for tea, but this is less commonly used.
We recommend a dose of 320 milligrams once daily. The best time of day to take saw palmetto is with a meal.
Possible Saw Palmetto Side Effects
Saw palmetto is considered safe for adult consumption when taken as recommended. There may be some side effects, such as:
♦ Taking on an empty stomach can cause occasional nausea
♦ You might temporarily experience light dizziness
♦ As well as a mild headache
The best way to avoid any mild side effects is to always take this supplement with food and avoid taking on an empty stomach. Always consult with your doctor before adding a saw palmetto supplement to your daily routine, and discuss all medical conditions and medications first.
How to Pick the Right Saw Palmetto Supplement
The benefits of saw palmetto for men’s health and vitality make it a popular supplement. Unfortunately, this means manufacturers are in competition to get their products noticed. This can mean that the quality of saw palmetto extract is widely different across supplements. For optimal prostate and urinary tract health, you need to look for a saw palmetto extract that stands out from the rest.
Pay attention to where the saw palmetto comes from. The Serenoa repens cannot be cultivated since it only grows in the Southeastern US. Any supplement company claiming their product comes from anywhere else is likely not selling you genuine saw palmetto extract.
USPlus® Saw Palmetto
USPlus® is the only saw palmetto extract in the United States to receive verified certification from US Pharmacopeia (USP) and Consumer Labs, making it the highest quality saw palmetto oil on the market.
Independent, 3rd-party testing shows that USPlus® consistently achieves 85–95% total fatty acids, and contains three times the beta-carotene, ten times the amount of lutein, and 30 times the zeaxanthin of typical saw palmetto extracts. USPlus® is a great place to start, and you won’t need to look anywhere else.
The Bottom Line
Saw palmetto has a long history of supporting male and female health. Recently, it has been identified as an effective way to reduce occasional urinary symptoms associated with normal aging. By helping to reduce occasional oxidative stress, saw palmetto can promote prostate, bladder, and urinary tract function, and with USPlus® saw palmetto extract, you get the best in prostate support and comprehensive men’s health.
