Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts helps men have less erectile and urinary dysfunction during prostate cancer treatment.
- A plant-based diet is linked to better sexual health in men treated for prostate cancer, a new study suggests.
- The results showed that patients who followed a predominantly vegetarian diet had an 8 to 11% higher measure of sexual function than those who did not.
- For the lead author, favoring a vegetarian diet is a simple measure that patients can take to improve their sexuality and quality of life.
Erectile dysfunction is a common after-effect of treatment for prostate cancer. To improve their performance in bed, patients would benefit from putting vegetables on their plate. Indeed, a new study, led by researchers at NYU Langone Health, shows that a plant-based diet, which limits meat and dairy products in favor of fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts, is linked to an improvement in sexual health in men treated for prostate cancer.
Vegetarian diet and prostate cancer: a reduction in erectile dysfunction
For this study published online on February 13 in the journal Cancer, American researchers analyzed the files of more than 3,500 men suffering from prostate cancer. They divided these patients into five groups based on the proportion of plant foods and animal products they usually ate.
The authors found that individuals who ate the most vegetables, fruits and nuts performed 8 to 11 percent higher on measures of sexual function compared to groups who had few of them in their menus.
Additionally, vegetarian food lovers who had a prostate tumor had up to 14% higher urinary health scores, with fewer cases of incontinence, obstruction and irritation, compared to vegetarians. other patients. They also had better hormonal health, as assessed by symptoms such as lack of energy, depression and hot flashes.
Prostate cancer: rely on a vegetarian diet to improve sexuality
In addition to the benefits in terms of sexual and urinary health, it has been observed that the consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts is also associated with better bowel function. For the research team, this positive effect could be explained by the presence of dietary fiber in these products.
“Our findings offer hope to those looking for ways to improve their quality of life after undergoing surgery, radiation and other common treatments for prostate cancer, which can cause significant side effects “explains the study’s lead author and urologist Dr. Stacy Loeb in a communicated. “Adding more fruits and vegetables to their diet, while reducing meat and dairy, is a simple step patients can take”concludes the expert.
