Pca & Plant-Based Diets

Very interesting recently published study in the ACS Journal, re: quality of life advantages for post-treatment non-metastatic Pca patients who consume plant-based diets exclusively, ie. sexual function, incontinence, bowel function, mood, etc... This seems to add to evidence found in some previous studies that plant-based diets may be a good thing for those who have experienced Pca.

From the study abstact:

"A higher plant-based diet index was associated with better scores for sexual function, urinary irritation/obstruction, urinary incontinence, and hormonal/vitality. Consuming more healthful plant-based foods was also associated with better sexual and bowel function, as well as urinary incontinence and hormonal/vitality scores in the age-adjusted analysis, but not in the multivariable analysis."

My diet includes red meats, perhaps twice a week at most. Lifelong habit that I don't intend to change. Fish and lots of veggies and fruit too. Some carbs like rice. Nuts. Light on bread and processed carbs. Opinions vary sharply on the pros and cons. But I believe the evidence shows that modern man wouldn't have evolved from our homo sapien ancestors into the intelligent creatures we are today without nourishing the nutritionally demanding human brain with the protein found, bite for bite, in meat vs. a plant-based diet. Is meat as necessary today as it was in the time of the cave man? No. Education has made all the difference. But I enjoy a nice steak or roast beef dinner. I don't plan to give it up any time soon.

But the scientific evidence seems to be mounting. A plant-based diet may be a smart healthy choice for Pca survivors. Food for thought. You decide.

Good luck to all.

https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cncr.35172

I’ve been on a strict vegetarian diet for over 40 years, probably 75% vegan. I do all the cooking so am in complete control of what I eat including bread which I make from scratch. The only time that we eat out is when we travel and I usually just hit a grocery store for provisions. I did this due to my family history of cardiovascular disease (most males are dead by 65) and my own diagnosis of hypertension in my late 20s. As I mentioned on the statin thread, my bloodwork has always looked good except for LDL which the statin now has brought down.

To be clear, I don’t care what others eat and don’t proselytize about my diet but others sure do care about what I don’t eat. As an example, just a few weeks ago I was with a group of friends and the topic of local restaurants a came up. There is a new place that’s really popular and just happens to be owned by my next door neighbors. I said I’d heard of the place and knew the owners but hadn’t eaten there. A new acquaintance in the group asked why and I told him that they have no vegetarian options on their menu. Well, he launches into me about how I can no way remain healthy or get enough protein on a vegetarian diet, blah, blah, blah and says he knows what he’’s talking about because he’s a (retired) medical professional (pharmacist.). I politely informed him that I certainly do get enough protein because it’s just a matter of getting the right amino acids and your body doesn’t care where they come from. And, if the diet is bad for me, how have I survived on it for so long and run marathons, half-marathons, etc. and lived to tell about them?

Yes, I know that some vegetarians are a PIA and that’s probably what he was reacting to but, geeezzz….

"Yes, I know that some vegetarians are a PIA and that’s probably what he was reacting to but, geeezzz…"

i think everyone hates the food police

VinceInMT said...

F8 said...
i think everyone hates the food police

They are sort of like the anti-surgery police.

HAHA, Well played Vince, I laughed out loud.

And I'm sure it was in jest and well meaning, so F8 and Vince, lets move back to plant based diet talk LOL>
@F8 I agree, about the food police. They are the PIA not the vegan/vegetarians.

@Vince, nobody's business what you eat. At our ages, pretty much everyone thinks they are an expert on everything. I live in a 55+ community, so I see it every day LOL. You do you.