A study has revealed that men who consume a diet abundant in fruits and vegetables experience a slower advancement of prostate cancer compared to those with higher meat intake.
Plant-based diets have been associated with improved health outcomes, including reduced risks of diabetes, heart disease, and premature mortality.
Researchers at the University of California surveyed men with prostate cancer from a US research cohort between 2004 and 2016 to assess the amount of plant-based foods in their diets. “Our findings align with previous reports that plant-based diets may improve prostate cancer outcomes,” the researchers said, citing work that showed plant-based diets reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
The researchers suggested that the anti-inflammatory properties of fruit and vegetables might be behind the association. They said previous studies had suggested several mechanisms through which plant-based diets might improve prostate cancer outcomes because of their high content of compounds including antioxidants as well as fibre, “which may promote satiety and regulate blood-glucose levels”.
In the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavour study, men were surveyed about their daily consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, meat, and dairy. Based on their plant intake, participants were divided into groups. The group consuming the highest amount of plants averaged nearly two additional servings of fruits and vegetables, approximately one extra serving of whole grains, and one fewer serving of dairy per day compared to the other group.
