Things you didn't know about the Mediterranean diet, part 2

 Here we are again, ready to extol the virtues of the Mediterranean diet.  In our last post, we shared some new information about how a pregnant mother's food choices impact that child's growth in childhood and risk of obesity.  Now we know that following that time-honored eating tradition is not only good for mothers, but also good for developing babies in the womb!  But today we will travel to the other end of the life spectrum and share good news about an issue that is of crucial importance to older men (and the grandchildren who love them!)

In a study published just last month, in the prestigious journal Cancer, from the equally prestigious M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,  (Cancer. 2021 Mar 1; 127(5):720-728. doi:10.1002/cncr.33182) we find new data on how the Mediterranean diet slows the progression of prostate cancer.  First, you should know that nearly half of men who are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer are found to be eligible for "active surveillance" (AS).  The principles behind AS are that prostate cancer may grow very slowly in some men, and that for those men it is safe to wait on any treatment as long as they are carefully monitored, as treatment may not be needed for a long time, and aggressive treatment too early may do more harm than good.  Using AS, it's possible to identify men who will need treatment soon, and identify those who can safely wait.  

The goal of the study was to find out if closer adherence to a Mediterranean diet makes it more likely that a man with prostate cancer in AS will be able to stay in AS rather than progressing to disease that needs treatment.   Study participants were assigned "points" of closer adherence to a Mediterranean diet for the following foods eaten at or above average amounts: vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and fish.  They were assigned "points" for eating at or below average amounts of meat and dairy. They got a "point" for intake of at least as much mono-unsaturated fat as saturated fat. They also got a point for moderate alcohol intake, defined as up to 13 drinks per week, and no points given if alcohol intake was zero or exceeded 13 drinks per week. In other words, the researchers placed a bet that men who ate a mostly plant based diet with fish, generous amounts of olive oil, and enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner would slow the progression of prostate cancer and not need to move into treatment. 

Was their bet correct?  Yes, the men whose scores were higher were much less likely to experience disease progression, so they could continue in AS and go on with their lives.  It's important to understand that the lifestyle burden of prostate cancer treatment in men is quite significant, often interfering with normal urination and sexual function, so this dietary benefit is enough to make us sit up and take notice!

One of the great strengths of this study was its consideration of the dietary pattern as a whole, rather than insisting on studying individual nutrients or dietary supplements.  Consistently we find that it is the overall pattern of one's eating that is the predictor of health, rather than any single food or nutrient.  This allows us to simply enjoy eating rather than obsessing about this specific food or that. 

I want to leave you with a food idea in closing.  Consider hummus and crisp fresh vegetables as a really delicious and filling lunch option rather than being stuck in the old "maybe a burger or a sandwich" lunch mode.  Gail and I threw some cut up carrots, celery, peppers and broccoli in bags and took a container of hummus with us on a trip, and found it to be more than enough food, and it didn't make us feel over-full or stuffed.  Quick, convenient, and definitely consistent with a Mediterranean diet. 

For more ideas, check out the food ideas and good information at Old Ways. 

To your good health,

Robert Pendergrast, MD, MPH
Aiken Augusta Holistic Health
803-426-1421