Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. A huge number of cancers can be prevented by diet. Could something as simple and tasty as olive oil make a difference?
Olive oil has a very high percentage of monounsaturated fat, which is much better for you than saturated fat.
This systematic review and meta-analysis set out to see if simply using olive oil could reduce your risk of cancer.
The meta-analysis included 45 studies. It found that using higher amounts of olive oil really can reduce your risk of cancer. Compared to the people who used the least olive oil, those who used the most had a 31% lower likelihood of any kind of cancer. That’s a big benefit for a simple, tasty change.
The study also found a 33% lower risk of breast cancer, a 23% lower risk of gastrointestinal cancer, and a 54% lower risk of prostate, bladder and urinary tract cancers. For upper aerodigestive cancers (head and neck), it found a 26% reduction except in esophageal cancer.
This study suggests that simply adding more olive oil to your diet can help prevent cancer.
PLoS One. 2022 Jan 11;17(1):e0261649.