The Mediterranean diet is often called the most useful of all diets, and a recently published study confirms this opinion once again.

Scientists from Italy found that the Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer by more than 50%.

The results of this study were published in the British Journal of Cancer.

The authors write that a combination of antioxidants, cellulose, flavonoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids characteristic of the Mediterranean diet can play an important role in the prevention of the most common cancer of the reproductive organs in women.

"Our research allows us to say that a healthy balanced diet can prevent one of the most dangerous oncological diseases in women. This gives us additional facts that you can rely on when choosing your daily diet, "said Dr. Cristina Bosetti, lead author of the study, an IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche employee (Milan, Italy).

Until recently, a lot of scientific research devoted to the useful properties of the Mediterranean diet. At the end of 2014, scientists reported that the Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of chronic kidney failure and slow cell aging. In the first half of May 2015, Medical News Today reported that an enriched diet of olive oil can protect the elderly from premature deterioration of mental abilities.

Strict adherence to the Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of endometrial cancer by 57%.

In the course of their research, Italian scientists analyzed the diet and the medical history of 5000 women who lived in different regions of Italy, as well as in the Swiss canton of Vaud. Data were obtained from case-control studies that were conducted between 1983 and 2006.

A total of 1411 participants in the study were confirmed for endometrial cancer. Their diet was compared with the diet of 3,668 other participants, patients of local hospitals who did not suffer from this disease.

Scientists evaluated adherence to the Mediterranean diet according to 9 criteria:.

Increased consumption of vegetables 2. Increased consumption of fruits and nuts 3. Increased consumption of legumes 4. Increased consumption of cereals and potatoes 5. Increased consumption of seafood 6. High ratio of vegetable and animal fats 7. Moderation with respect to alcohol 8. Low content of dairy products 9. Low red meat in the diet The study showed that those women who adhered to the principles of the Mediterranean diet as closely as possible (according to 7-9 criteria) had a 57% lower risk of endometrial cancer than those who did not follow these principles. Compliance with 6 criteria reduces the risk of disease by 46%, and 5 criteria - only 34%. If the participants met 4 or less criteria, then the effect of such a diet on the risk of endometrial cancer was insignificant.

Dr. Julie Sharp, head of the medical information department at Cancer Research UK, cautions about the conclusions of the scientists and states that to confirm the results, larger studies.

"We know that aging and obesity increase the risk of endometrial cancer, but a new theory about the effect of the Mediterranean diet on this disease needs to be confirmed. The problem is that the last work is based on the responses of the participants themselves. That is, we must accept for truth what the patients themselves will remember, "says Sharpe.

Despite the limitations of the latest study, Dr.

Sharpe has nothing against healthy eating and believes that the Mediterranean diet has a lot of proven beneficial properties, for which it is worth trying.

"Do not smoke, exercise, maintain a normal weight, limit alcohol and eat healthy foods - all this will work for you and your health," concluded Dr. Sharp.

By the way, recently published data that older women with metabolic syndrome are more likely to suffer from endometrial cancer. Given that the metabolic syndrome is a consequence of unhealthy eating, the results of Italian scientists make sense.

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