If youre worried about prostate problems, a plate piled high with fresh vegetables may be just what the doctor ordered, a new study shows.
A long-term health study reported in the February edition of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows men who consumed the most vegetables were 11% less likely to have symptoms of prostate swelling or undergo painful prostate surgery.
In 1986, men completed diet surveys that asked how often they ate from a list of 131 foods, including various fruits and vegetables. Survey results showed participants ate between 3 and 10 fruit and vegetable servings daily.
Starting in 1992, the men noted any surgeries or symptoms of non-cancerous enlarged prostate. By 2000, a total of 6,092 men had undergone surgery or experienced moderate to high symptoms of urinary problems associated with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). This condition causes the prostate to swell, which puts pressure on your urinary tubes. BPH is not cancerous, but it can make urination difficult and painful.
When researchers closely examined survey data, they found that high vegetable consumption seemed especially beneficial for improving BPH symptoms.
While the study doesnt conclusively prove that vegetables alone reduced mens odds of developing BPH, the results are very promising.