Plant-based diets are linked with lower risks for certain cancers. But does it also affect prostate cancer? Researchers published results from an extensive review of plant-based diets and prostate cancer risk.
They concluded that not only does it have positive effects on cardiovascular health and quality of life, but plant-based diets also have the potential to improve prostate cancer outcomes.
Are Plant-based diets safe?
Compared to meat, plants are way safer to consume and have more benefits because plants contain a lot of anti-cancer compounds like tannins, resveratrol, and flavonoids.
Cooked meat generates two kinds of carcinogens: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced by grilling or barbecuing, and heterocyclic amines produced through pan-searing or frying.
Do Plant-based diets lower the risks of cancer?
Researchers in the said review evaluated possible links between plant-based diets and lower prostate cancer risk. One-third of them were based on observation, which means that the research relied on pre-existing information held in health registries.
The rest of the studies were interventional and the subjects enrolled were prostate cancer patients who had been observed over time to see if dietary changes, stress management, exercise, and lifestyle changes will lead to better results.
The majority of the observational studies concluded that plant-eaters developed prostate cancer at lower rates compared to meat-eaters while 60% of the interventional studies found that PSA or prostate-specific antigen levels increased slower in plant-eaters than meat-eaters.
A rise in PSA suggests prostate cancer is recurring or worsening even if men who had it have received treatment and have been cured in the past.
However, Dr. Stephen Freedland, a urologist and the director of the Center for Integrated Research in Cancer and Lifestyle at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, suggested that large-scale clinical trials are still needed to confirm the relation.
Hi! My name is Kimmy B, I am the co-host of the We’reHard podcast. I have a passion for fitness, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. I’ve always loved working out and staying active but recently found my groove in the fitness industry.