Researchers have observed and carefully documented the eating habits of more than 62,000 women over a period of 20 years to determine how breast cancer affects the onset and development of breast cancer.
The study found that those women who followed a close-to-Mediterranean diet had a 40% lower risk of developing the most common type of breast cancer. The diet in question includes mainly vegetable proteins, fish and olive oil.
The form of cancer that can be avoided with this diet is not stimulated by the hormone estrogen, is often more difficult to treat than estrogen-dependent forms, and is much more likely to be fatal.
In 2011 alone, 3,885 new cases were registered in Bulgaria and 1,284 women died. The incidence among Bulgarian women is increasing by 1.8% per year.
A typical Mediterranean diet includes a rich intake of plant proteins such as nuts , lentils and legumes , whole grains and healthy, monounsaturated fats such as olive oil . Consumption of processed cereals such as white bread and white rice , red meat and sugary sweets is minimized.
Alcohol, which traditionally has its place in the Mediterranean diet, was excluded from the study because of the 55,000 new manifestations of the disease each year in the UK alone, at least 12,000 are alcohol-related. According to scientists, they can be prevented if you stop drinking alcohol.
In addition to reducing the risk of breast cancer, the Mediterranean diet has a protective effect against insulin resistance and hormones involved in ovulation and important for reproductive health.