Saw palmetto is a popular herb that’s commonly used to support male health.
In particular, saw palmetto has been shown to support hair growth, prostate health, hormonal health, as well as helping to reduce inflammation.
We’ll review the top research-backed benefits of saw palmetto for men in this article. We’ll also go over the best ways to add this beneficial herb to your diet.
Saw Palmetto Overview:
Saw palmetto is a type of palm tree that is native to the southeastern United States. It’s part of the Serenoa family of trees. From a scientific standpoint, saw palmetto is known as Serenoa repens.
The fruit of the saw palmetto is the part of the plant that is used medicinally. Saw palmetto berries have a unique sweet aroma. The taste has been described as slightly soapy and acrid (this is one of the reasons why taking saw palmetto as a supplement is ideal).
The first medicinal use of saw palmetto is attributed to early Native Americans. It was said to support healthy digestion among other health benefits.
New research shows that saw palmetto may be a key herb for prostate health. It also appears to be beneficial for hair growth and hormonal balance.
Saw Palmetto Health Benefits for Men
Below are the top research-backed health benefits of saw palmetto for men.
1. Prostate Health
Saw palmetto has been shown to be one of the best herbs for supporting prostate health. This is crucial for men struggling with an enlarged prostate.
A clinical trial involving over 350 individuals found that saw palmetto is beneficial for supporting prostate health. The study participants saw increases in various biomarkers of prostate health. The researchers noted that the saw palmetto extract was also well tolerated.
Another clinical trial involving aging men found that taking saw palmetto oil was helpful for improving overall prostate health. The researchers also noted an increase in serum free testosterone levels over the course of the 12-week study.
Another key study looked at the impact of taking saw palmetto over the course of 15 years. 30 individuals were given 320mg of saw palmetto daily for 15 years. At the end of the study, the researchers noted that saw palmetto appears to be an effective and safe way to support long-term prostate health.
Not all studies on saw palmetto have been favorable, one research review notes that additional research is needed to verify the effectiveness of saw palmetto for prostate health.
2. May Prevent Hair Loss
Saw palmetto has been shown to be a helpful herb for preventing hair loss in men.
A recently published research review looked at the benefits of saw palmetto for hair health. Across five clinical trials, it was discovered that individuals who supplemented with saw palmetto had a 60% improvement in overall hair quality, 27% improvement in total hair counts, and increased hair density in 83.3% of patients.
Researchers believe that the mechanism of action for saw palmetto is its ability to block 5-alpha reductase activity. 5-alpha reductase is an enzyme that converts testosterone into another sex hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is linked with hair loss
This is confirmed by a clinical trial that found that applying a hair lotion that contained saw palmetto and other herbs worked to support hair health. The researchers noted that total hair count increased by 11.9% compared to baseline, among other improvements.
For men that are looking to prevent hair loss as they age, saw palmetto is a key herb to look into.
3. Hormonal Health
Saw palmetto also appears to be an important herb for male hormonal health.
As noted above, researchers believe that saw palmetto has the ability to block 5-alpha reductase activity. This prevents the conversion of testosterone into DHT, which may help to preserve free testosterone levels.
A clinical trial involving 20 men found that taking a supplement containing saw palmetto and astaxanthin helped to increase testosterone levels and decrease DHT levels.
Additionally, an animal study found that saw palmetto helped to improve testosterone levels in mice. It also worked to reduce body fat, serum triglyceride levels, and total cholesterol.
These findings indicate that saw palmetto may be a helpful herb for men that are looking to support their testosterone levels.
4. May Help To Balance Inflammation
Finally, research suggests that saw palmetto has anti-inflammatory properties.
An animal study in rats with enlarged prostates found that saw palmetto extract helped to reduce swelling and various inflammatory biomarkers. Particularly, it was shown to reduce interleukin 6, an inflammatory cytokine.
A similar animal study found that saw palmetto helped to reduce inflammation levels in mice with benign prostatic hyperplasia (i.e. enlarged prostates). It was discovered that saw palmetto supplementation helped to significantly decrease total prostate weight and improved glutathione levels. It was also shown to significantly reduce inflammation levels.
Finally, a lab study found that saw palmetto extract worked to inhibit various inflammatory biomarkers. This suggests that saw palmetto may work to reduce inflammation throughout the body.
How To Add Saw Palmetto To Your Diet
Based on the health benefits listed above, adding saw palmetto is a no-brainer for most guys - especially if you're looking to support your prostate, hormone levels, and hair health.
So what's the best way to add saw palmetto to your diet?
The best way to incorporate this herb into your diet is to take a daily saw palmetto supplement.
At Wellbel, we include saw palmetto in our Wellbel Men formula, our daily supplement for men.
In addition to saw palmetto, Wellbel Men also contains vitamin A, vitamin D, folate, vitamin B2, biotin, zinc, selenium, and copper.
This formula is your one-stop daily men’s health supplement that works to support hair growth, hormonal health, and prostate health.
Conclusion:
Saw palmetto is a safe, well-tolerated herb with a broad variety of health benefits for men.
Clinical research indicates that saw palmetto may provide many different male health benefits, especially for hair growth and prostate health.
If you are a guy looking for natural support in any of these areas, saw palmetto is worth considering.
Here at Wellbel, we include saw palmetto powder in our Wellbel Men formula. This daily men’s health formula works to support hair, hormonal health, and prostate health.
Have you tried saw palmetto before? What's your favorite way to include this herb in your diet?
