Can diet and olive oil prevent breast cancer? Understand

Is there a food associated with a lower risk of developing breast cancer? We all know that there are no so-called “superfoods”, nor miracle products. This term is yet another way of emphasizing the benefits of some foods that are included in a healthy diet. But there is a diet that has such excellent nutritional qualities that it helps against breast cancer. We are talking about the Mediterranean diet and olive oil. See more information about the study that was done!

Read more: Find out which foods help prevent cancer

According to a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), regular consumption of extra virgin olive oil reduces the appearance of breast cancer in women.

Study supplemented subjects with olive oil

The study was carried out by the University of Navarra, Spain, and included 4,282 women aged between 60 and 80 years to be evaluated. Over a period of six years, these women were divided into three different groups.

The first followed a Mediterranean diet with the presence of extra virgin olive oil to supplement. In the second group, there was adherence to a Mediterranean diet supplemented with oilseeds. The third group followed only a diet that restricted carbohydrate consumption.

Thus, the researchers found a 62% decrease in the incidence of breast cancer in the first group, which followed a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil. Thus, it was explained that olive oil has the ability to protect the organism from mutations that lead to development of tumors, aiding in primary prevention, not to mention its antioxidant.

Mediterranean diet habits

The so-called Mediterranean diet refers to the dietary patterns of people living in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, which can differ from one region to another. However, in general, these habits are:

• Increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, seeds and cereals;
• High consumption of extra virgin olive oil;
• Little consumption of meat and more of fish;
• Low intake of cheese, milk and yogurt;
• Moderate wine consumption;
• More fresh and less processed products;
• Active lifestyle;
• Lower intake of simplified carbohydrates.

Improve knowledge with further studies

More research is needed to determine exactly how certain foods make breast cancer more difficult. However, it's important to note that diet plays an important role in health, and the healthier you are, the more overall benefits.

The recommendation is to increase the daily consumption of extra virgin olive oil. However, be aware of the amount, as this is a source of fat that should not be consumed in large quantities due to the caloric content.