How a Mediterranean Diet May Benefit Cancer Survivors
New results from a 15-year long study suggest that following a Mediterranean diet may help cancer survivors stay healthier. This diet could even help them live longer.
What is a mediterranean diet?
The Mediterranean diet is rich in olive oils, fish, nuts, leafy greens and other vegetables, fruit, and whole grains. It is based on the traditional diets from Italy, Turkey, Greece, and other countries along the Mediterranean Sea.
How does the Mediterranean diet help cancer survivors?
Research suggests the Mediterranean diet can promote health in different ways. Regularly eating this diet could help lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and some types of cancer. Scientists think this is because the diet includes many foods that have polyphenols. Polyphenols are found naturally in plants and plant-based foods. They are known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties.
An example of how following a Mediterranean diet may help cancer survivors is through heart health. This is an important possible benefit since many cancer survivors have a higher risk of developing heart problems due to long-term side effects of some treatments. Evidence in this new study suggests that the Mediterranean diet may have even more benefits.
Can cancer survivors live longer if they eat a Mediterranean diet?
The study looked at data provided by 802 cancer survivors in Italy. The survivors self-reported their diets. Each person was given a score based on how closely they followed the diet over the years of the study. Results suggest that following the Mediterranean diet helped to lower cancer survivors’ risk of death from any cause.
Overall, there were benefits of following the Mediterranean diet, no matter how strictly people followed the diet. However, people who followed the Mediterranean diet most closely saw the most benefit. They had a 60% lower risk of death from heart problems and a 32% lower risk of death from all causes. The research did not find that eating a Mediterranean diet lowered the risk of dying from cancer.
“The Mediterranean diet has been well established by research to be one of the best options for cancer survivors due to its benefits, including patients feeling better overall and living longer,” said Richard Lee, MD. Dr. Lee is an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) expert and the Cherng Family Director’s Chair for the Center for Integrative Oncology at City of Hope. Dr. Lee was not involved in this study.
How to follow a Mediterranean diet at home
If you’re interested in trying the Mediterranean diet, remember to check with your doctor. Discuss possible benefits and risks as they relate to your situation. To follow a Mediterranean diet at home:
- Eat meals that have lots of vegetables.
- Snack on fruits and nuts.
- Use olive oil as your primary source of fat.
- Include whole grains, fish, and other seafood.
- Limit red meat, eggs, and dairy.
- Avoid processed foods, such as sweets and sugary drinks.
How to find the best Mediterranean diet resources
You can find many Mediterranean recipes online or in cookbooks. You can also contact your care team for help. Ask to be connected to a dietitian or nutritionist. They can help you learn more about the diet and how it may benefit you. They can also help you find the best Mediterranean diet resources, such as recipes.
Learn more about diet and nutrition from the American Cancer Society:
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Developed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
