eating mushrooms would reduce the risk

 Wednesday October 9, 2019

Japanese researchers have discovered a link between eating mushrooms and a reduced risk of prostate cancer. The study recommends that men aged 50 and over eat mushrooms several times a week.

 

Less risk of developing prostate cancer

Led by researchers from the University of Public Health in Japan, new study focused on 36,499 men aged 40 to 79. The researchers asked them to complete a questionnaire on lifestyle choices such as diet, including mushroom consumption, physical activity, smoking and consumption habits. The men were also asked to provide information on their education, family and medical history.

After following these groups of men for more than 24 years for the first and 13 years for the second, the scientists noted that men who consumed mushrooms once or twice a week were 8% less likely to develop prostate cancer, regardless of the amount of fruit and vegetables, or the meat and dairy products they consumed. They have been compared to those who ate mushrooms less than once a week.

 

Eat mushrooms two or three times a week

Participants appeared to benefit more from eating mushrooms three or more times a week. They then presented a risk of less than 17% compared to those who ate it less than once a week.

 Consumption of mushrooms also seems to be particularly beneficial in men aged 50 and over and in those who consume a large amount of meat and dairy products and few fruits and vegetables. These results, published in theInternational Journal of Cancer, are the first to link the consumption of mushrooms to the lower risk of prostate cancer, one of the most common forms of cancer in men.

 Stéphanie Haerts

Learn more about prostate cancer