How to Lower PSA Levels Naturally

Updated on October 21, 2021

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by cells in your prostate gland. A PSA test measures PSA levels in blood, and normal results should be under 4.0 ng/mL. PSA levels above this threshold should be investigated because it may indicate prostate cancer, although other factors that might increase PSA levels include: an enlarged or inflamed prostate gland, urinary tract infection, recent ejaculation, taking testosterone, older age and even riding a bicycle. Lowering PSA levels can be done naturally and with medical treatment.

Avoid Foods That Trigger Higher PSA Levels

Certain foods seem to affect the prostate gland negatively and increase blood levels of PSA. More specifically, diets rich in dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt) and animal fat (meat, lard, butter) have been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. Therefore, switching to a healthy diet that's low in saturated fat and high in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk of prostate cancer and lower PSA levels.

• Dairy products seem to trigger higher levels of an insulin-like growth factor, which has been connected to high PSA levels and poor prostate health.
• Other foods to avoid include sugar, saturated fats, fried foods, eggs, potatoes that are not organic, alcohol, and foods from cans with BPA lining.
• When you eat meat, opt for lower-fat varieties such as turkey and chicken. Low-fat diets may also be connected to improved prostate health overall and reduce the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement).
• Substitute fish for meat more often. Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, herring) are rich in omega-3 fats, which have been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
• Dark blue/purple berries and grapes, as well as dark green veggies, tend to be highest in antioxidants, which prevent the damaging effects of oxidation on tissues, organs, and glands (such as the prostate).
• Along with changing your diet, make sure to avoid exposure to environmental toxins

Eat More Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, which is a carotenoid (plant pigment and antioxidant) that protects tissues from stress and helps them utilize energy better. Diets rich in tomatoes and tomato products (such as tomato sauces and pastes) are linked to lower risks of prostate cancer and contribute to reducing PSA levels circulating in the blood. Lycopene appears to be more bi oavailable (easier for the body to absorb and utilize) when tomatoes are cooked such as when it's in processed products like tomato paste and tomato puree.

• Some research indicates that more lycopene may be bioavailable from diced tomatoes cooked with olive oil than those cooked without.
• Although the main source of lycopene in the American diet is tomato-based products, other sources include apricots, guavas, and watermelons. 
• If you cannot eat or don't like tomatoes, you can still get the PSA-reducing benefit of lycopene by taking a 4 mg supplement daily.

Drink Pomegranate Juice

Natural pomegranate juice contains many healthy compounds, some of which positively impact the prostate gland and keep PSA levels low. For example, the seeds, flesh and peels from pomegranates contain powerful antioxidants such as flavonoids, phenolics, and anthocyanins. These phytochemicals are believed to hinder the growth of cancer cells and slow down PSA from accumulating in the blood. Pomegranate juice is also a good source of vitamin C, which stimulates the immune system and allows the body to repair its tissues — both of which positively impact PSA levels.Try to drink a glass of pomegranate juice each day. If pure pomegranate juice does not appeal to you (too sour), look for a sweeter juice blend that contains pomegranate in it.

• Select the most natural and pure pomegranate products. Processing tends to destroy phytochemicals and vitamin C.
• Pomegranate extract is also available in capsules and can be taken as a daily dietary supplement.

Consider Supplementing With Pomi-T or the Better Super Pomi 10X

Pomi10x is a commercially available dietary supplement that contains raw powdered pomegranate, broccoli, green tea, and turmeric. Research in 2013 concluded that Pomi10x significantly lowers PSA levels in patients with prostate cancer. Each of the ingredients are strong antioxidants and have anti-cancer properties, but when they're combined there seems to be a synergistic effect that boosts effectiveness. The research was based on men with prostate cancer taking the supplement for six months. They found that Pomi10x is well tolerated and not thought to cause any negative side effects.

• Broccoli is a cruciferous veggie high in sulfur-based compounds, which fight cancer and combat oxidative damage in tissues. The more you cook broccoli, the less beneficial it becomes, so stick with raw varieties.
• Green tea contains catechins, which are antioxidants that can help kill cancer cells while dropping PSA levels in the blood. If you make a cup of green tea, don't use scalding water because it will reduce some of its antioxidant strength.
• Turmeric is a strong anti-inflammatory that contains curcumin — the component responsible for lowering PSA levels by restricting the spread of prostate cancer cells.

Try Supplementing With PCSPES

PCSPES (which means "hope for prostate cancer") is a dietary supplement made from the extracts of eight different Chinese herbs. It's been around for many years and commercially available at most health food stores. Research done in 2000 concluded that PC-SPES can significantly reduce PSA levels in men with advanced prostate disease. Researchers believe that PCSPES acts somewhat like estrogen (the main female hormone) by lowering testosterone levels in men, which shrinks the prostate and reduces PSA levels.

• All the men studied who took PCSPES for two years (nine capsules daily) had their PSA levels drop by 80% or more, and the decline lasted for over a year after they stopped the supplements.
• PC-SPES is a mixture of Baikal skullcap, chrysanthemum flowers, Reishi mushrooms, isatis, licorice root, ginseng root (Panax ginseng), rabdosia rubescens and saw palmetto berries.