What is saw palmetto?

Saw palmetto, is a palm tree that is dwarf in nature native to the southeast regions of North America. Dark berries are obtained from saw palmetto tree which contains large seed. The saw palmetto fruit has long been used by Native Americans for its nutritional, diuretic, sedative, aphrodisiac, and cough-reducing properties. Nowadays, the berries are eaten whole or dried and used to make tea. Saw palmetto is dried and ground that can be purchased in capsule or tablet form. It’s widely available, including online, the most common form on the market is oily extracts of the fatty portions of the dried berries. These supplements contain 75-90% fats depending on the extraction method. They usually provide higher amounts of beneficial plant compounds like vitamin E and other antioxidants compared to the raw fruit.

Benefits Saw Palmetto:

• Support urinary tract function.
• Improve prostate health.
• Support testosterone levels.
• May decrease inflammation.
• May help regulate testosterone levels.
• Help lower hirsutism symptoms.
• Help relieve symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Potential side effects of saw palmetto:

Saw palmetto is generally considered safe and has been associated with very few side effects.

Some of the most commonly reported side effects are headache, dizziness, nausea, and constipation

For example, those who are pregnant or nursing should avoid this supplement, as there is limited research on its safety and long-term effects.