Click here for the original post.
Among the many TV drug commercials I dislike is the one with the woman squirming miserably as she’s trapped in traffic because she desperately needs to pee.
Not that I don’t empathize; we men have our own urinary miseries. It’s just that the drug they’re pushing lists drowsiness, dry mouth, and blurred vision among its side effects. You have to wonder if, after taking her new medicine, she’s going to be fit for driving.
Commercials like this convince people there’s a quick (and side-effect laden) fix for a problem that just may have a better solution.
Pumpkin seeds have been known to affect urinary health in both men and women since the 19th century. An extract of pumpkin seed is often included in natural prostate formulations, and recent research has shown the extract positively affects the bladder health of women as well.
How it actually works isn’t entirely clear, but indications are that correct levels of the male hormone testosterone are essential. Recall that women have a small amount of testosterone with their estrogen and progesterone. It’s this smidgen of testosterone that jump-starts your sex energy (too much testosterone, however, and you’ll grow a beard).
One mechanism of pumpkin seed’s action concerns specific fatty acids called phytosterols, which affect hormone levels. Phytosterols have been shown to be beneficial for the urinary health of both sexes. A similar effect may be the pumpkin seed’s ability to regulate a second enzyme that also involve hormones.
The modest pumpkin seed appears to be a powerful force in urinary health.
But is it effective? One study in Japan followed 39 premenopausal and menopausal women with a variety of urinary symptoms including urgency, frequency, and nighttime awakening. After six weeks of continuous use, 75% reported significant improvement of all symptoms, including better sleep quality.
The product is Better Bladder by Integrative Therapeutics and taking it is easy: one pill, once a day.
By the way, to anticipate your thoughtful next question, “What about eating pumpkin seeds?”
A great snack–high fiber, healthy fats, really quite good for you. And yes, they’ll enhance the effect of Better Bladder.