

Men's Health
Is it possible dietary choices may affect sperm counts, genital development of boys, sexual function in men, and risk of prostate cancer, among other men’s health issues?
The ongoing global drop in male fertility may be associated with saturated fat intake and lack of sufficient fruits and vegetables. Sex steroid hormones in meat, eggs, and dairy may help explain the link between saturated fat intake and declining sperm counts. Cholesterol may also play a role. We’ve known for decades that men with high cholesterol levels appear to show abnormalities in their spermiograms, decreased sperm concentration, about a third of the normal sperm movement, and half the normal sperm shape, and, in the largest study to date, higher levels of cholesterol in the blood was associated with a significantly lower percentage of normal sperm. Cholesterol was also associated with reductions in semen volume and live sperm count. These results highlight the role of fats in the blood in male fertility. Though a healthier diet may be associated with healthier sperm counts, cholesterol-lowering statin drugs did not seem to help.
Erectile dysfunction (ED), the recurrent or persistent inability to attain or maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual performance, reportedly is present in up to 30 million men in the United States and approximately 100 million men worldwide. The reason may be due to our artery-clogging diet. Erectile dysfunction and our number-one killer, coronary artery disease, may actually be two manifestations of the same disease—inflamed, clogged, and crippled arteries—regardless of which organs are affected.
What if we ate a diet chock-full of plant foods? A compilation of case-control studies concluded that cow’s milk consumption is a risk factor for prostate cancer, and the same outcome was found for cohort studies. A 2015 meta-analysis found that high intakes of dairy products—milk, low-fat milk, and cheese, but not nondairy sources of calcium—appear to increase total prostate cancer risk.
Harvard University researchers recruited more than a thousand men with early-stage prostate cancer and followed them for several years. Compared with men who rarely ate eggs, men who ate even less than a single egg a day appeared to have twice the risk of prostate cancer progression, such as metastasizing into the bones. The only thing potentially worse for prostate cancer than eggs was poultry: Men with more aggressive cancer who regularly ate chicken and turkey had up to four times the risk of prostate cancer progression.
The information on this page has been compiled from Dr. Greger’s research. Sources for each video listed can be found by going to the video’s page and clicking on the Sources Cited tab. References may also be found at the back of his books.
Popular Videos for Men's Health


Treating Advanced Prostate Cancer with Diet: Part 2
What happens when metastatic prostate cancer patients were taught to increase intake of whole grains,...
Treating Advanced Prostate Cancer with Diet: Part 1
Dr. Dean Ornish showed that a plant-based diet and lifestyle program could apparently reverse the...
Saffron for Erectile Dysfunction
What are the effects of both oral and topical application of the spice saffron for...
Best Supplements for Prostate Cancer
What would happen if you secretly gave cancer patients four of the healthiest foods?
Do Men Who Have More Sex Live Longer?
When done right, love may protect your lover’s life.
Treating Prostate Cancer with Green Tea
Green tea is put to the test against precancerous lesions, prostate cancer, and metastatic cancer,...
Pomegranate vs. Placebo for Prostate Cancer
Pomegranate juice for prostate cancer was finally put to the test in a randomized, controlled,...
Changing a Man’s Diet After a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Might appeals to masculinity and manhood help men with prostate cancer change their diet to...
Prostate Cancer and Organic Milk vs. Almond Milk
Does the hormonal stimulation of human prostate cancer cells by cow milk in a petri...
Dairy Estrogen and Male Fertility
Sex steroid hormones in meat, eggs, and dairy may help explain the link between saturated...
The Role of Diet in Declining Sperm Counts
The ongoing global drop in male fertility may be associated with saturated fat intake and...
Prostate Cancer Survival: The A/V Ratio
Reducing the ratio of animal to plant protein in men’s diets may slow the progression...
Pistachio Nuts for Erectile Dysfunction
Men eating pistachio nuts experienced a significant improvement in blood flow through the penis accompanied...
Survival of the Firmest: Erectile Dysfunction and Death
Because penile arteries are only about half the size of the coronary arteries in the...
Benefits of Fenugreek Seeds
The spice fenugreek appears to significantly improve muscle strength and weightlifting power output, while possessing...
Prostate vs. Plants
All men should consider eating a prostate-healthy diet, which includes legumes (beans, peas, lentils, soy);...
Watermelon as Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction
Watermelon is a rich source of citrulline, which has been found to improve erection hardness...
Cancer Reversal Through Diet?
Dr. Dean Ornish turns from reversing heart disease to trying to reverse prostate cancer.
Viagra and Cancer
What is the role of erectile dysfunction drugs like Cialis and Levitra in the promotion...All Videos for Men's Health
-
The Benefits of Fenugreek for Preventing and Treating Diabetes
The spice fenugreek contains 4-hydroxyisoleucine, a peculiar amino acid that may explain its benefits for controlling blood sugar.
-
The Role of Kimchi and H. Pylori in Stomach Cancer
What explains the Achilles’ heel in certain Asian diets?
-
Fenugreek Benefits for Sexual Function, Painful Periods, and Milk Production
The hormonal benefits of fenugreek extend beyond the muscle-bulking testosterone boost.
-
How Much Does Chemotherapy Improve Survival?
If you put together all of the new chemo drugs that had been approved over a dozen years, the average overall survival benefit is only 2.1 months.
-
Food for Hair Growth
Hot peppers, soy foods, and pumpkin seeds may help with hair loss.
-
Pills for Hair Growth
What are the pros and cons of finasteride (sold as Propecia) and minoxidil (sold as Rogaine) for hair loss?
-
Natural Dietary Treatments for Enlarged Prostate BPH
Cranberries and pumpkin seeds are put to the test for benign prostatic hypertrophy.
-
How Much Cancer Does Processed Meat Cause?
I quantify the risks of colon and rectal cancers from eating bacon, ham, hot dogs, sausage, and lunch meat.
-
The Carcinogen Glycidol in Cooking Oils
Glycidol may help explain why people who eat fried foods get more cancer.
-
Pomegranate: A Natural Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Pomegranates are put to the test for weight loss, diabetes, COPD, prostate cancer, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.