United States – The Mediterranean diet means thaat cancer survivors won’t have high risks of heart disease and they will live longer, a new study suggests.
Cancer patients whose post-diagnosis dietary adherence is closest to the Mediterranean diet reported researchers in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology CardioOncology, as reported by HealthDay.
Lower Mortality and Cardiovascular Risks
In particular, cancer subjects consuming the estimated Mediterranean diet had a 32% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 60% reduction in cardiovascular death rate, as identified by the researchers.
The results suggest that “different chronic diseases, such as tumors and heart diseases, actually share the same molecular mechanisms,” researcher Maria Benedetta Donati of the Joint Research Platform Umberto Veronesi Foundation in Italy said in a news release.
“This is known in the literature as ‘common soil,’ namely a common ground from which these two groups of disorders originate,” Donati said.
The Mediterranean diet comprises fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals, seeds, nuts, legumes and olive oil, the researchers defined.
At least two servings of fish and seafood should be consumed weekly, whereas foods rich in dairy and lean proteins are recommended to be consumed daily but in smaller quantities. The diet prohibits the intake of red or red-colored fruits, restricts red meats and processed foods, and eliminates sugary foods and beverages.
Long-Term Observations and Dietary Impact
In the context of the study, in relation to which patients were recruited between 2005 and 2010, the authors have observed more than 13 years of follow up. Study involved the participants offer information for study, and details of their eating habits were included in this process.
Researchers also observed that more people living with cancer would be recorded in the near future due to improved therapies. On that consideration, one needs to know how nutrition could enhance the quality of life of many who have triumphed over the disease, as reported by HealthDay.
Antioxidants and Health Benefits
“The Mediterranean Diet is mostly composed of foods such as nutritional fruit, vegetables, and olive oil, which are natural sources of antioxidant compounds, which could explain the advantage observed in terms of mortality not only from cancer but also from cardiovascular diseases, that can be reduced by diets particularly rich in these bioactive compounds,” researcher Chiara Tonelli, president of the Scientific Committee of the Umberto Veronesi Foundation, said in a news release.