Photo: Nazarethhealthcare.com
A new study published in the British Journal of Cancer has shown that women who eat a Mediterranean diet could cut the risk of uterine cancer by over half.
Pooled data from a number of case-control studies in various areas of Italy and Switzerland show that consuming food high in unsaturated fatty acids, fibre, phytochemicals and antioxidents, (as found in what we know as a 'Mediterranean diet'), dramatically reduce the odds of contracting cancer of the womb by over 50%.
What do researchers mean by a 'Mediterranean diet'? They characterise it by nine dietary components: a high intake of vegetables, fruits/nuts, cereals, legumes, fish; low intake of dairy products and red meat, (see my previous blogs 11 and 1); a high monounsaturated to saturated fat ratio; and low alcohol intake.
Study researcher Dr Cristina Bosetti, from Mario Negri Institute for Pharmaceutical Research in Milan, said, "Our study provides evidence for a beneficial role of the Mediterranean diet on endometrial [uterine] cancer risk. It adds more weight to our understanding of how our everyday choices, like what we eat...effect our risk of cancer."
The 'Mediterranean diet' has recently been pronounced as beneficial, not only in risk reduction of a growing number of cancers but is also associated with good general health, a healthy heart and weight control or obesity - itself a potential cause of some 22 different cancers according to studies published in The Lancet, including liver, colon, ovarian, breast and prostate cancers, (see my blog 3).
The Mediterranean diet Pyramid
Further Reading:
British Journal of Cancer Mediterranean Diet and Womb Cancer
Womb (uterus) Cancer All about Womb Cancer. NHS pages.
Mediterranean Diet All about the Mediterranean diet.
How to follow a Mediterranean diet Patient Information and Support.
The Lancet Body mass and cancer risk.
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