Consider plant-based diets for men’s health; deceptive Medicare plans

Q: Will eating a plant-based diet do anything for my prostate or my sexual health? — Jay S., San Francisco

A: We know that a plantbased diet (which avoids highly processed carbs and added sugars and syrups) is great for your cardiovascular system, brain and immune health. All of that contributes to resistance to infection and helps prevent inflammation, heart disease, cancers, erectile dysfunction and more. But until this year’s meeting of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, no one had done a review of published research to see what it might do for men’s prostate and sexual health.

Researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine looked at 13 studies to see if there was a correlation between plant-based nutrition and prostate health, five studies to look at erectile function and six studies for BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia).

Although the results are not conclusive, there are indications that what guys eat affects what goes on below their belt.

■ Large studies showed a link between a plant-based diet and a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Smaller studies showed plantbased nutrition slowed prostate cancer growth for half a year.

■ Two studies on ED reported a reduced risk of dysfunction when men ate a plant-based diet.

■ Five of six studies on BPH found plant-based diets helped prevent development of the condition.

Not definitive, but given what we know about the remarkable benefits of a plant-based diet, it seems obvious that it would have a positive effect on prostate and sexual health. So, I suggest you aim for seven to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. One study found that men who eat three or more servings of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage) a week had a 41% decreased risk of prostate cancer compared with guys eating less than one serving a week. Also, enjoy fatty fish like salmon (3 to 6 ounces a serving), ditch inflammation-promoting red and processed meats, and drink water and black, filtered coffee.

Q: I’m trying to figure out what kind of insurance to get when I turn 65 next year. Is there any way to sort out the various offers? — Diana R., Laguna Beach, California

A: Original Medicare offers coverage for 80% of the costs at a doctor’s office or the hospital for a fee of around $150 a month. It does come with a deductible, and you need to sign up for Part A — hospital insurance — and Part B — medical insurance. You can also buy part D drug coverage. Then you need to buy Medicare Supplement coverage, which pays for what Medicare doesn’t.

The other alternative is to go for Medicare Advantage. The medicare.gov site says that Medicare Advantage bundles Part A, Part B and usually Part D into one plan and may offer extra benefits like vision, hearing and dental services. From plan to plan, rules differ about how you get services and the costs. Also, you need to use doctors who are in the plan’s network; you may (or may not) pay a premium in addition to the monthly Part B premium, and you cannot buy or use separate supplemental coverage.

But — why is there always a but? — a new report from the Majority Staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance highlights marketing scams and deception in Medicare Advantage plans that often result in beneficiaries getting switched — without consent — to plans that don’t cover their providers or their needs. The committee looked at complaints from 14 states, Medicare advocacy organizations and federally-funded State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, and found “a consistent national picture” of deceptive practices. You can read the report by Googling “Deceptive Marketing Practices Flourish in Medicare Advantage.”

It shouldn’t be this hard to sort out your coverage after age 65! Unfortunately, you need to do careful research and ask your doctors and hospitals if they take Advantage plans. (Mayo Clinic announced that they won’t.) Get the best plans you can afford.

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. His next book is “The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow.” Do you have a topic Dr. Mike should cover in a future column? If so, please email questions@greatagereboot.com.