A colourful Mediterranean Diet, or a Rainbow Diet, can reduce the risk of post-menopausal breast cancer by 40 per cent, according to research by the World Cancer Research Fund. It was particularly effective at reducing non-estrogen positive breast cancers (ER-) like Triple Negative Breast Cancer and HER2+ Breast Cancer, which have been increasing and now account for a third of all newly diagnosed breast cancers.
This was a very large study. 62,573 women between the ages of 55 and 69 were followed for 20 years and their diets closely recorded. As in previous studies (like the 15 year Harvard study of women also covered on this website), the women who stuck most closely to the Mediterranean diet had significantly lower levels of breast cancer.
Chris Woollams, former Oxford Biochemist and author of the best selling book, ‘The Rainbow Diet’ said, “It is important to understand that the diet is not simply about colourful vegetables and fruits. In this research the Mediterranean Diet was defined as being rich in healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil, nut oils, seeds, avocados, fish, and low in refined carbs, with whole grains, legumes like lentils and other pulses, and copious amounts of colourful vegetables being important. Yet again, here is hard evidence that this really is the healthiest diet going, especially if you want to beat cancer”.
Professor Piet van den Brandt who led the Maastricht University team claimed that the research could help to shine a light on how dietary patterns can affect cancer risk. He added, “We found a strong link between the Mediterranean Diet and reduced estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women, even in a non-Mediterranean population. This type of breast cancer usually has a worse prognosis than other types of breast cancer".