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Researchers reviewed litÂerÂaÂture to deterÂmine if comÂpoÂnents of the Mediterranean diet influÂence canÂcer risk, findÂing that olive oil, fruits, vegÂetaÂbles, seafood, whole grains, and wine may have proÂtecÂtive effects against varÂiÂous types of canÂcer. The study sugÂgests that conÂsumÂing these comÂpoÂnents can help preÂvent canÂcer by inhibitÂing cell proÂlifÂerÂaÂtion, inducÂing cell-cycle arrest, and interÂferÂing with canÂcer-related pathÂways, ultiÂmately reducÂing the risk of canÂcer and heart disÂease.
People in counÂtries along the Mediterranean Sea not only have a lower inciÂdence of heart disÂease, but are also less likely to get canÂcer than those livÂing in North European and North American counÂtries. This prompted researchers to review recent litÂerÂaÂture and deterÂmine if the wide array of comÂpoÂnents present in the Mediterranean diet influÂences the risk of canÂcer.
An artiÂcle, pubÂlished in the jourÂnal BMC Surgery, invesÂtiÂgates the relaÂtionÂship between canÂcer risk and difÂferÂent comÂpoÂnents present in foods that are typÂiÂcal of the Mediterranean diet: olive oil, fruits, vegÂetaÂbles, seafood, whole grains, and wine.
Experimental and human celÂluÂlar studÂies sugÂgest that olive oil intake may reduce the risk of breast, prostate, colon and digesÂtive tract canÂcers. Meta-analyÂsis of 19 studÂies furÂther revealed that the amount of olive oil conÂsumed also affects the risk of canÂcer, with canÂcer inciÂdence decreasÂing when olive oil intake is high. The researchers reported that the proÂtecÂtive action of olive oil, which posÂsiÂbly causes the death of canÂcer cells and inhibits carÂcinoÂgenic pathÂways, may be due to the presÂence of two health proÂmotÂing comÂpoÂnents — tyrosol and hydroÂcyÂtyÂrosol.
SEE ALSO: The Health Benefits of Olive Oil
Fruits and vegÂetaÂbles, which form an inteÂgral part of the Mediterranean diet, are among the richÂest sources of canÂcer proÂtecÂtive comÂpoÂnents, accordÂing to the authors of the artiÂcle. These include gluÂcosiÂnoÂlate in Brussels sprouts, cabÂbage and other cruÂcifÂerÂous vegÂetaÂbles; ascorÂbic acid, anthoÂcyanins, flaÂvanones, hydroxÂycinÂnamic acid and polypheÂnols in citÂrus fruits; lycopene in tomaÂtoes; and dietary fiber, allium comÂpounds, polypheÂnols, seleÂnium, proÂtease inhibitors, dithiÂolthÂiones, vitÂaÂmin C, vitÂaÂmin E, and carotenoids present in many fruits and vegÂetaÂbles. Laboratory studÂies show that these comÂpoÂnents preÂvent proÂlifÂerÂaÂtion of canÂcer cells, inhibit cell-sigÂnalÂing, induce cell-cycle arrest, preÂvent cell damÂage by ultra vioÂlet rays, and interÂfere with other canÂcer-related pathÂways.
Another advanÂtage of the Mediterranean diet in reducÂing risk of canÂcer comes from the low conÂsumpÂtion of red and processed meats, which conÂtain canÂcer-causÂing polyÂcyclic aroÂmatic hydroÂcarÂbons, N‑nitroso comÂpounds, and hetÂeÂroÂcyclic amines. According to the researchers, fish and seafood conÂsumed instead of meat have anti-carÂcinoÂgenic propÂerÂties that may reduce risk of canÂcer.
Limited intake of refined grain prodÂucts by popÂuÂlaÂtions on the Mediterranean diet may decrease risk of thyÂroid, stomÂach, colon, and upper digesÂtive sysÂtem canÂcers. High fiber intake from whole grain foods that are freÂquently conÂsumed may preÂvent canÂcer as it increases fecal bulk, decreases tranÂsit time, proÂvides satiÂety and increases proÂducÂtion of short-chain fatty acids. Fermentation of dietary fiber by bacÂteÂria in the large intesÂtine may also reduce risk of colon canÂcer, accordÂing to the authors of the study.
Finally, the glass of wine accomÂpaÂnyÂing the Mediterranean meal is rich in resverÂaÂtrol, a comÂpound that may reduce the risk of canÂcer by preÂventÂing tumor forÂmaÂtion, inhibitÂing canÂcer cell growth, interÂferÂing with canÂcer pathÂways and causÂing the death of canÂcer cells.
The take-home mesÂsage: Eat fruits, vegÂetaÂbles, whole grain cereÂals, and seafood; drink some wine, and use olive oil as the main source of fat in your diet to decrease your risk of both canÂcer and heart disÂease.