Truth time. For a number of years I have been an avid reader of Flagstaff Business News and an occasional reader of USA Today. It was with great interest and curiosity when I unfolded a copy of the Sept. 15, 2015 USA Today and saw the front page headline – Olive oil, Mediterranean diet may cut breast cancer risk.
As with any published medical research studies or medical claims, you should always consult with your family doctor before changing your diet.
Based on my own investigation and research, I have discovered several benefits to consuming ultra fresh extra virgin olive oil on a daily basis.
The article in USA Today stated “A new study suggests there may be a way for women to dramatically reduce their risk of breast cancer, without cutting calories, losing weight or taking medication.”
According to the recently released study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine, the Mediterranean diet with extra virgin olive oil is beneficial in lowering the risk of breast cancer.
The results, based on the long-term follow-up of 4,282 women ages 60 to 80 years old enrolled in the PREDIMED trail, add to the benefits of consuming extra virgin olive oil and the Mediterranean diet. The PREDIMED trial, conducted in Spain from 2003 to 2009, was designed to test the benefit of supplementing Mediterranean diet with extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts in preventing cardiovascular disease.
In the present study, investigators evaluated the effects of supplementing the Mediterranean diet with either EVOO or mixed nuts on risk of breast cancer.
The subjects enrolled in the study were randomly assigned to one of the three intervention groups: the Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil; the Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts; or the control Mediterranean diet.
To ensure adherence to the intervention diets, subjects on the Mediterranean diet with extra virgin olive oil were provided with one liter of EVOO/week, while those in the mixed nut group were provided with 30 grams of walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds per day. Participants in the control diet group were provided dietary training to reduce dietary fat intake.
Results of the study showed that subjects on the EVOO supplemented Mediterranean diet had a 62 percent lower risk of developing malignant breast cancer than subjects on the control diet. Subjects who consumed higher amounts of EVOO lowered their risk of malignant breast cancer even more.
The positive effect of extra virgin olive oil could be due to the presence of polyphenols such as oleuropein, oleocanthal, hydroxytyrosol and lignans in EVOO that have been identified as anticarcinogenic agents. These polyphenols exhibit anti- proliferative action on the expression of human oncogenes, prevent oxidative damage to DNA in mammary epithelial cells, inhibit tumor growth and cause apoptosis of breast cancer cells in laboratory experiments.
Although statistically nonsignificant, subjects on the Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts also had a lower risk of malignant breast cancer compared to the control group. However, when results of both intervention diet groups were combined, risk of malignant breast cancer was reduced by 51 percent. Only 35 cases of malignant breast cancer were identified during the course of the randomized trial.
While these results are encouraging, the authors acknowledge that the study has limitations, one of which is that these results are a secondary analysis of the PREDIMED trial that was designed to study effect of EVOO and mixed nuts intervention of the Mediterranean diet on prevention of cardiovascular risk.
A lot of clinical research over several years suggests that consuming small daily amounts of extra virgin olive oil is good for men and women. To find out just how good ultra-fresh olive oil tastes, I invite you to stop by Olive Oil Traders-Flagstaff and find out for yourselves.
The holidays are coming up…I am confident you know a few family members, neighbors or co-workers who would truly appreciate the “Gift Of Health” this holiday season.
Come by and let us help you select the perfect personalized holiday gift. FBN
By Mike Kilpatrick