Mediterranean diet linked to reduced cancer risk, whether we lose weight or not
The Mediterranean diet’s positive effects on weight loss have earned a growing following, and now it could be key to reducing the risk of cancer.
A major study published this week found that people who closely follow a Mediterranean diet may have a lower risk of obesity-related cancers, even if eating this way doesn’t help them lose weight.
“The Mediterranean diet is rich in foods that support overall health and help protect against diseases, including cancer,” the study’s lead author Inmaculada Aguilera-Buenosvinos said.
“While obesity is a known risk factor for many types of cancer, our study found that even without significant weight loss, people who follow a Mediterranean diet have a lower risk of developing obesity-related cancers,” Aguilera-Buenosvinos of Spain’s University of Navarra added.
Researchers examined the data of 450,000 adults with an average age of 51 and with no history of cancer.
Participants provided detailed information about their eating habits, lifestyle, and medical history at the start of the study, and had measurements taken for their height, weight, and waist circumference.
During a follow-up period of about 15 years, 4.9 per cent of participants developed obesity-related cancers, according to the findings published this week.
Those cancers included certain tumours that grow in the oesophagus, breast, colon or rectum, uterus, gallbladder, stomach, kidneys, liver, bile ducts, ovaries, pancreas, thyroid, brain, and blood cells.
However, people who most closely followed a Mediterranean Diet were 6 per cent less likely to develop obesity-related cancers, the study found.
Furthermore, participants’ BMI and waist size did not appear to influence how much their eating habits impacted cancer risk.
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While the study wasn’t designed to prove whether or how a Mediterranean diet might directly prevent cancer, Aguilera-Buenosvinos said the diet included an abundance of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich foods that might have a protective effect.
Typically a Mediterranean diet will include:
- Fruits and vegetables, rich in fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants that help reduce damage to cells
- Legumes and whole grains, which support healthy digestion and help control blood sugar levels
- Olive oil, rich in healthy fats that reduce inflammation
- Fish and nuts, sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which may protect against chronic diseases.
Adherence to a Mediterranean diet also limited the intake of processed foods, processed meats and added sugars, which had been linked to increased cancer risk, Aguilera-Buenosvinos said.
“This combination of nutrient-rich foods and the reduction of harmful ones creates an environment in the body that is less favorable for cancer to develop,” she said.
