What Are The Benefits Of Saw Palmetto?

Just as there are different diseases that affect human beings, there are also several natural remedies to treat them too. Take, for instance, Saw Palmetto, a palm tree that looks like a shrub. A rare tree that grows primarily in the southeast United States is known to carry multiple health benefits. It is basically, the supplement that is extracted out from the berries of this tree that is known to carry all the saw palmetto benefits for men and women alike. This natural ingredient is packed with nature’s goodness and can help relieve many health disorders.

Let us understand all about the saw palmetto benefits for men and women. Moreover, we

will help you choose the best saw palmetto supplement available in the market.

What is Saw Palmetto?

As we mentioned earlier, saw palmetto as suggested by the name itself is a palm tree that grows mainly in the southeast regions of North America. The berry fruits of this tree called saw palmetto is considered to be anti-inflammatory, diuretic, aphrodisiac, nutritional, as well as a sedative in nature.

Readily available in tablet, capsule, and liquid form, saw palmetto supplements are also rich in important compounds like vitamin E.

Saw Palmetto Benefits for Women

1. Prevents Hair Loss

Some symptoms of alopecia in women are associated with the excess of DHT or Dihydrotestosterone that leads to shrinking the hair follicles in the scalp. Various studies have revealed that saw palmetto extracts have anti-inflammatory agents that can help relieve symptoms of androgenetic alopecia in women, thus preventing hair loss.

2. Cures Acne

Another benefit of saw palmetto for females is that it helps relieve acne symptoms. Excessive DHT is one of the common causes of acne in women and this is where the extract of saw palmetto works in regulating both DHT and sebum in the skin thereby preventing acne issues in women. 

3. Treats Hormonal Imbalance and PCOS

Women can also benefit from the saw palmetto extracts to regulate their hormonal imbalance issues leading to conditions like PCOS. Some studies have revealed that the extract of saw palmetto is beneficial for women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome and menopause stage by acting as an estrogen receptor.

4. Treats Hirsutism

Last of the best saw palmetto benefits for women is that it helps in relieving symptoms of hirsutism. Saw palmetto extract can help regulate DHT that leads to excessive hair growth in areas like the face, arms, and abdomen. 

Saw Palmetto Benefits for Men

1. Treats Prostate Cancer

The topmost benefit of saw palmetto for males is that it helps relieve symptoms of prostate cancer or Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or BPH. This happens because some properties in saw palmetto help to balance the male hormone testosterone and DHT. 

2. Enhances Libido

Among other main saw palmetto benefits for men, there is some evidence that reveals that this ingredient helps increase libido in men. Saw palmetto supplements help prevent loss of libido or Proscar symptoms effectively without many side effects. 

3. Increases the Sperm Count

Likewise, when men take saw palmetto supplements after consulting with their doctor, they can improve the quality and quantity of their sperm count as well. This natural ingredient can help increase male fertility, by balancing the free testosterone in the body. 

 4. Prevents Hair Loss

Just like it helps in preventing hair loss in females, saw palmetto is also beneficial for men to prevent alopecia symptoms. It can block the action of 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT that leads to alopecia symptoms. Thus, this natural ingredient called saw palmetto helps prevent hair loss in men. 

Saw Palmetto Supplements

You can easily buy saw palmetto supplements online and from drugstores, and herbal food stores. However, remember that the quality of all supplements may not be the same, and may vary from brand to brand. So, make sure to choose a supplement that is approved by the FDA or Food and Drug Administration. Besides, ensure reading the Supplement Facts Label before buying a saw palmetto supplement to know the exact amount of the ingredient in the supplement. Some popular saw palmetto supplements are:

• Doctor’s Best Saw Palmetto Capsules
• Himalayan Organics Saw Palmetto Capsules
• Goodlife Nutrition Saw Palmetto Capsules
• NOW Foods Saw Palmetto Capsules
• Pure Saw Palmetto Liquid Extract
• Nutraeats Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules

Common Side Effects of Saw Palmetto Supplements

Now that you have understood all about saw palmetto benefits, it is time also to learn about some of its potential side effects too. Here is a list of common side effects of saw palmetto:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Upset Stomach
• Dizziness
• Bad Breath
• Vomiting
• Nausea

Right Dosage of Saw Palmetto Supplements

Knowing just about the various saw palmetto health benefits won’t be sufficient unless you know about the right dosage of these supplements to extract the exact benefits. Experts recommend a daily dosage of saw palmetto supplement ranging between 160 to 320 mg. Still, to be sure, do consult your doctor for a safe dosage for the kind of benefit you want to extract from these supplements. 

Who Should Not Take Saw Palmetto Supplements?

While saw palmetto supplements are considered to be safe for everyone, still for safety precautions, lactating mothers, and pregnant women must refrain from consuming these supplements. Moreover, anyone should consult with the doctor for long-term effects and side effects before continuing these supplements for more than 3 months. 

The Bottom Line

The best thing about saw palmetto is that its supplements are easily available in dry capsule form and oily liquid extract form. Some even consume these berries straight in a raw form or make a tea out of it to enjoy its various health benefits. In a nutshell, one can reap several health benefits with this natural ingredient that is full of anti-inflammatory as well as anticancer properties.