A vegan diet might not be the healthiest option out there, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. When it comes to prostate cancer, following a vegan diet can help reduce the risk of developing this disease.
That’s according to new research findings published in the journal BMC Cancer. The study, led by Dr. Elisabeta Riedel, a urologist from the University of Sydney in Australia, analyzed the diets of more than 1,400 men with prostate cancer and found that those following a vegan diet had a 49% lower risk of cancer recurrence compared to those with a traditional western diet. Moreover, the men who switched into a vegan diet after their prostate cancer treatment experienced a 71% lower risk of recurrence compared to the ones who didn’t make the change.
What Is A Vegan Diet?
A vegan diet excludes all kinds of meat, fish, and fowl — as well as any kind of animal product, such as milk and eggs. It also excludes all kinds of food grown using animal products, such as dairy and eggs. A vegan diet is a great choice for individuals who want to live a healthier lifestyle or who want to prevent certain diseases.
The choice to go vegan is more than just a personal choice; it can also be a way of life for many people. Studies have shown that vegans have higher concentrations of plant-based products in their urine than people who don’t follow a vegan diet. This could mean that a vegan diet leads to a more complete digestion and improved health in general, as well as a lower risk of certain diseases.
Why Is A Vegan Diet Important For Prostate Cancer Patients?
If you have prostate cancer, you might be wondering about the connection between your diet and the disease. Here’s a short answer: Your diet affects your health, and it plays an important role in prostate cancer development and progression. Research has shown that a diet high in red meat and processed meat raises the risk of developing prostate cancer. Moreover, eating too much sugar can also increase your risk of developing the disease. So if you want to keep your prostate healthy, you should limit the amount of sugar you eat and eat more vegetables and fruit.
Some research studies have also shown that a diet high in fiber and low in sugar may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. These diets are typically vegan, but they don’t necessarily have to be. The bottom line is that what you eat can affect your health, and it may be linked with prostate cancer development and progression. It’s always important to consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, especially if you have prostate cancer.
What Are The Detriments Of A Vegan Diet?
Just because a vegan diet is healthy does not mean that it’s all good. Like any other dietary choice, following a vegan diet comes with its share of disadvantages. Here’s a short list:
- Maggots in mushrooms are not a pretty sight. Don’t eat raw vegetables while on a vegan diet. They can become contaminated with worms and other parasites.
- Most commercial vegan food products are heavily processed and contain a lot of preservatives, which might raise your risk of developing cancer. Look for commercial vegan foods that are certified organic.
- You’ll miss out on a lot of wonderful, original vegan recipes if you don’t cook for yourself or if you eat only commercially available products. The good news is you can find a lot of inspiration online, and you can also buy high-quality vegan cookbooks if you want to get creative.
- It can be difficult to follow a vegan diet if you are not used to eating vegetables and fruit. These foods don’t tend to blend well with commercial vegan foods, so you’ll have to get accustomed to preparing them yourself.
- Since a vegan diet excludes many foods that we come across on a daily basis, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy weight. So if you’re one of the millions of people already familiar with the struggle of keeping weight off, following a vegan diet might be hard work. Be prepared to work out regularly to burn off the extra calories you need to intake.
- If you follow a vegan diet and decide to go camping, make sure to bring your own food and drink. You won’t find supermarkets selling vegan foods and drinks, so you’ll have to get creative in order to stay healthy while on the move.
On the plus side, a vegan diet can help you reduce your risk of prostate cancer. If you want to get your health back on track and decrease your risk of developing the disease, consider following a vegan diet.
How Did The Study Approach The Question Of Prostate Cancer Risk And Diet?
This study was designed to investigate the link between diet and prostate cancer. Specifically, researchers wanted to know if men who followed a vegan diet had a lower risk of developing the disease compared to those who didn’t follow a vegan diet. Thus, they conducted a retrospective analysis of 1,450 prostate cancer patients, comparing those who followed a vegan diet with those who didn’t follow a vegan diet.
In order to determine if there was a connection between diet and prostate cancer development and progression, the researchers first had to establish a baseline. They did this by collecting information about the men’s dietary habits prior to their diagnosis of prostate cancer. Then, in the years following their diagnosis, the researchers followed-up with the men to see if their diet changed and whether or not they developed the disease.
What They Found
The results of the study showed that men who followed a vegan diet had a 49% lower risk of developing prostate cancer compared to those who didn’t follow a vegan diet. Moreover, switching to a vegan diet helped reduce the risk of recurrence in men with prostate cancer by 71%.
Even more interesting is that the beneficial effects of a vegan diet on reducing the risk for prostate cancer seemed to be more profound in African-American men than in Caucasian men. This may be because the two groups differ in terms of their dietary preferences. For example, African-Americans are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables compared to Caucasians, so the protective effects of a vegan diet might be more apparent in this group. However, more research is needed in order to verify this theory.
The Bottom Line
Overall, this study shows that a vegan diet can help reduce prostate cancer risk. Moreover, switching to a vegan diet after your treatment for prostate cancer seems to be effective at further lowering the risk of recurrence. Men who ate a vegan diet prior to their diagnosis of prostate cancer and continued to follow it after their treatment had significantly lower recurrence rates compared to those who didn’t follow a vegan diet or those who changed their diet after their treatment. If you want to keep your prostate healthy, consider following a vegan diet.