Olive oil protects against breast cancer, a study

Olive oil has long been known for its health benefits, now scientists claim regular use of the Mediterranean oil could help keep breast cancer at bay.

Spanish scientists found that olive oil mounts a multi-pronged attack on the tumours, stunting their growth, driving their cells to implode and protecting against potentially-cancerous damage to DNA.

Researches at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain found that the oil thwarts a gene that drives the growth of breast tumours.

In experiments on rats, the researchers found that the oil, which has high content of antioxidative substances, switched off proteins that cancer cells rely on to stay alive.

It also protects DNA from damage which can lead to cancer, the Daily Mail quoted the researchers as saying.

Reporting their findings in the journal Carcinogenesis, study author Dr Eduard Escrich said regular and long-term use of extra virgin olive could give better results.