Plant-based diets have been linked to a lower risk of developing and dying from prostate cancer; now, a new study suggests that they can improve quality of life for the millions of men living with the disease, by reducing erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and other common side effects. Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and NYU Grossman School of Medicine led the study, which was published last week in the journal Cancer.
To see what impact eating a plant-based diet might have on quality-of-life issues that often arise from prostate cancer and treatment, researchers analyzed data from more than 3,500 patients, sorting them into five groups based on the proportion of plant versus animal foods that they reported eating. To get a clearer understanding of cause and effect, the team adjusted for body mass index and other differences among participants…