Vegan diets protect against several diseases and in particular reduce the risk of prostate cancer according to recent studies.
- Consumption of milk, processed meats and red meat is linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer.
- In France, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the 3rd cancer causing the most deaths according to data from Public Health France.
Favoring a plant-based diet is recommended for reduce the risk of many disorders : heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, digestive diseases, colon and breast cancers… But consuming more plant-based products would also protect against prostate cancer, according to several studies.
Antioxidants reduce the risk of prostate cancer
The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in fruits and vegetables are believed to help reduce the risk of prostate cancer and enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH).
The vegan diet consists of consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes and excluding foods of animal origin – beef, pork, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products…
And the benefits are proven: a more plant-based diet can reduce 19% risk of dying prostate cancer and reduces the risk of having an elevated level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) which could be a sign of prostate cancer.
Vegetable food has a positive role on erection
In addition, diets that favor foods of plant origin can play a “beneficial role in erectile function” according to research and help to control the hypertrophy of the prostate which leads to problems in urinating in particular.
Doctors, however, caution against making drastic changes in diet without talking to a medical professional:
“If you begin to consider a very restrictive diet, seek the advice of your doctor or dietician first.“, advises theurologist Brad Gill. “There are essential nutrients you need in your diet to stay healthy. If you reduce your diet too much, you are likely to suffer from other health problems because of these deficiencies..”
