Study Finds Yet Another Reason To Try The Mediterranean Diet

As Hippocrates once said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Indeed, certain foods can help keep your health where you want it—but which foods, exactly?

As a refresher, the Mediterranean diet is broadly based on the diet of the countries lining the Mediterranean Sea and focuses on antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, seafood, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and plenty of herbs and spices.

For this study, researchers wanted to assess the impact of the Mediterranean diet on gastric cancer risk. Namely, they conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing Mediterranean diet research.

They gathered 11 different studies, which included a cumulative of over 1.3 million people, looking for any significant patterns between the diet and instances of gastric cancer.

Consider these findings one more reason to lean into the Mediterranean style of eating, including plenty of whole foods and omega-rich options in your regular rotation of ingredients.

Not only could it help lower your risk of gastric cancer, but the diet itself has so many additional benefits, whatever your health goals are.

After all, U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of the best diets consistently ranks the Mediterranean diet as No. 1—it earned the top spot for the fifth year in a row. That report, specifically, notes the diet can support weight loss, heart and brain health, cancer prevention, and diabetes prevention and control.