As cancer rates rise across the globe every year, researchers are increasingly focused on finding preventative measures.
Studies are now showing that plant based diets may be an answer to lowering the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers with over half of all men in America developing cancer in their prostate by the age of 80, making it second leading cause of cancer related deaths in men.
Approximately 1 in 9 men who are diagnosed will die of the disease, despite improvements in mortality due to early detection and advances in treatment.
However, as the links between diet and disease prevention are becoming more and more apparent good news is becoming evident, both for vegans and those at risk of prostate cancer.
In a recent study of over 26,000 participants, people who follow a plant based diet were found to experience a 35 percent lower chance of developing prostate cancer.
Scientists compared the dietary regimes and incidence of cancer within this group and found that a vegan diet not only lowered risk in comparison to a diet including meat, but was also found to be significantly more protective than vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian (consuming fish) and lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets (consuming eggs and dairy).
It is believed that the increased levels of fibre, anti-inflammatory antioxidants, as well as the absence of animal proteins and a lowered level of saturated fats play a major role in the protective benefits of a plant based diet as exhibited in this study.
The effect of phytochemicals (naturally occurring plant chemicals) particularly from fruits and vegetables are being increasingly studied for their anti-cancer properties and plant based diets or increased plants in the diet are frequently linked with better long term health results.
A raw food diet is arguably the most powerful plant based diet as it not only incorporates the principles of vegan eating, but also eliminates all processed foods, focusing on alive, vibrant and fresh natural produce.
Advocates of a raw food diet, such as myself, claim that eating foods in their most natural raw state ensures a multitude of vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, antioxidants and phytochemicals.
If you are interested in exploring a plant based diet check out my website where there are free raw food recipes and lots of tips. I also have a raw food diet plan to assist people in their transition into a raw food diet.