A Mediterranean diet is high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and olive oil and low in meat, sweets, and saturated fat. It is linked to lower risks of cancer and relief of some symptoms and imbalances common among people with cancer.
How can a Mediterranean diet help you? What the research says
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Due to the nature of studies of lifestyle interventions, several risks of bias exist within the studies about the Mediterranean diet that are nearly impossible to avoid, even within a very well designed study. For example, it is not possible to blind participants to the intervention they are receiving, study groups will likely need to be treated differently beyond just the intervention (they will have to have food prepared for them or be trained in preparing Mediterranean meals), and the sample population will likely be biased towards only people who are already interested in lifestyle interventions. Several researchers have gone to great lengths to minimize these risks of bias but the risk will always be there to some degree. Due to these inherent risks, we consider the highest quality any individual RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects can achieve is “moderate.”
Improving treatment outcomes
Is a Mediterranean diet linked to improved survival? Is it linked to less cancer growth or metastasis? Does it enhance the anticancer action of other treatments or therapies? We present the evidence.
Optimizing your body terrain
Does a Mediterranean diet promote an environment within your body that is less supportive of cancer development, growth, or spread? We present the evidence.
Research has only begun studying the connections between body terrain factors and cancer outcomes, and the oncology community is not yet sure how to interpret all the findings. If any of these terrain factors could be an issue for you, we recommend that you ask your doctor if you need any diagnostic tests to detect terrain imbalances or any adjustments to your lifestyle or medications.
We also recommend that you share with your doctor the information here about how a Mediterranean diet might affect these terrain factors if you have any imbalances.
Managing side effects and promoting wellness
Is a Mediterranean diet linked to fewer or less severe side effects or symptoms? Is it linked to less toxicity from cancer treatment? Does it support your quality of life or promote general well-being? We present the evidence.
Reducing cancer risk
Is a Mediterranean diet linked to lower risks of developing cancer or of recurrence? We present the evidence.
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