A plant-based diet is associated with a multitude of health and environmental benefits as those who follow a plant-centered diet have a lower chance of developing a heart condition, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Along with these other benefits, studies have now shown that a plant-based diet can decrease your risk of developing prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction and eating animal-based products can increase your risk.
However, while an association is now known, there is still little researched about the specifics involving plant-centered dietary patterns and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, prostate cancer risk or erectile dysfunction. In an effort to further this research, three new studies were presented at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting, demonstrating the positive impact plant-based diets can have on the health of men.
Study #1: Impact of Plant-Based Diet on PSA Levels
In the first study presented, researchers sought to determine if an association exists between plant-based dietary content and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Elevated PSA levels are a possible symptom of prostate cancer. The study surveyed men enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and used the A Plant-based Diet Index (PDI) and healthful Plant-based Diet Index (hPDI) to measure diets.
After completing the study, research revealed a significant association between increased consumption of a healthy plant-based diet and lower PSA levels. Now that this connection is backed up by more evidence, if you are at risk of prostate cancer and/or erectile dysfunction, consider talking to you doctor about the possibility of starting a plant-centered diet to reduce your risk of prostate cancer and erectile disfunction.
Study #2 Does a Plant-Centered Diet Decrease Your Risk of Prostate Cancer?
Previous studies revealed that plant-focused diets that include foods like red tomatoes are better for decreasing your risk of prostate cancer and that an animal product diet can be potentially harmful for your prostate. This prospective study included over 45,000 men who were followed for up to 28 years in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.
When completed, the study showed that eating an overall plant-based diet was associated with a significantly lower risk of fatal prostate cancer. On top of this, the data from this study also provides supportive evidence that higher consumption of healthful plant-based foods may be associated with a lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer, with the strongest results among younger men.
Study #3 Can Plant-Based Diets Lower Your Risk of Erectile Dysfunction?
The third study presented at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting, evaluated the association between a plant-based diet and erectile dysfunction. Researchers collected data from over 2,000 men in the NHANES database using the healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI).
In a well-characterized national database, research divulged that a healthful plant-focused diet is associated with lower chance of having erectile dysfunction.
“Increased consumption of a healthy plant-based diet has significant benefits for urologic and sexual health,” said Dr. Stacy Loeb, . “These three studies show that dietary interventions can make positive impacts for overall health, as well as, specific urologic conditions faced by millions of men.”
SOURCE American Urological Association
