Avoid Drinking These Popular Beverages If You Have An Enlarged Prostate

If you've been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), there are a few beverages your prostate may thank you for staying away from. Number one: carbonated soft drinks.

Affecting most older men, people with an enlarged prostate may experience weak urine flow, frequent nighttime urination, bladder leaks, interruptions in one's urine stream, and more. Although the growth of the prostate starts at a young age, the continuous growth of the organ during older adulthood is thought to be due to age-related changes in hormone levels, explains the National Health Service (NHS). Certain dietary choices may ramp up symptoms of BPH, beverages included. Along with coffee and alcohol, this includes sugary, caffeinated drinks, according to experts at St. Pete Urology — and soda checks both boxes. Here's how caffeine and sugar each affect the urinary tract and how this can cause trouble for people with an enlarged prostate.

Let's start with caffeine. In a standard 12-ounce can of Coke, Coca-Cola states that you'll get 34 milligrams (mg) of caffeine. This amount jumps to 46 mg in the same size can of Diet Coke. Mountain Dew is among the top fizzy offenders, however, containing 54 mg of caffeine in a standard can (via PepsiCo). In a 2017 systematic review published in The Journal of Urology, researchers note that some studies have found links between caffeine consumption and increased risk for an enlarged prostate. That being said, other studies have found no such connection, and the majority of research involved coffee consumption, specifically.

Even so, many healthcare professionals suggest erring on the side of caution. Experts at the Midwest Institute for Non-Surgical Therapy (MINT) explain that caffeine can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, prostate inflammation, and increase urine output due to its diuretic effects. The stimulant can also put one at risk for dehydration and increased blood pressure, both of which can exacerbate BPH symptoms.

Many carbonated soft drinks are packed with sugar. In a standard 12-ounce can of Coke, you'll find 39 grams of sugar (via Coca-Cola). Although Diet Coke is free of sugar, it contains the artificial sweetener aspartame, and the NHS notes that artificial sweeteners can also upset the urinary tract (via Coca-Cola Canada). Mountain Dew wins out once again, however, containing 46 mg of added sugar (via PepsiCo). Excess sugar consumption can increase one's risk for overweight or obesity, which St. Pete Urology says may make a person more vulnerable to developing BPH. Alternatively, surges in blood sugar levels from drinking soda may worsen urinary discomfort for those already diagnosed.

Unlike soft drinks, unsweetened cranberry juice or decaffeinated green tea may instead alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Because the antioxidants in herbal teas lessen inflammation, the prostate may subsequently reduce in size, thereby easing the burden on our urinary tract. Of course, the best beverage you can drink for your prostate health is water, which will keep you adequately hydrated and help rid the body of any harmful compounds.