Eat Like a Greek to Avoid Skin Cancer

            Not only do Greeks, Turks, Israelis and others who follow the Mediterranean diet have lower rates of heart disease and cancer, but thanks to all the colorful fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, olive oil, yogurt and fresh fish they eat, they also have extremely low rates of melanoma. And new research from Israel suggests that the Mediterranean diet protects against this potentially deadly form of skin cancer. Investigators gave one group of study volunteers a daily drink that was high in antioxidants; a second group drank beverages such as sodas instead. After two weeks - and five to six hours per day in the sun - blood tests showed that the volunteers who drank the antioxidant mix had 50 percent fewer oxidation products in their blood than the soda drinkers. In addition, drinking the antioxidant cocktail also delayed a tell-tale skin change - one that indicates the beginning of the tissue and DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer.

My take? I've long been a proponent of the Mediterranean diet, a composite of the traditional cuisines of Spain, southern France, Italy, Greece, Crete and parts of the Middle East. My own anti-inflammatory diet incorporates many of the principles of the Mediterranean diet. We know that this way of eating is healthy, and I’m not surprised to learn that it protects against melanoma, a disease that is on the upswing in many parts of the world. Don't assume that all you have to do to protect yourself is eat the Mediterranean way - the Israeli researcher who conducted the study noted that it is still important to wear sunscreen and protective clothing and to avoid the sun during the hours when it is at its strongest. I agree.