Olive oil and breast cancer
A recent study has shown that olive oil attacks tumours, stunting their growth and forcing the cells to implode. It also protects against cell DNA damage, a common cause of cancers.
Researchers from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona have confirmed that extra virgin olive oil prevents breast cancer and many other forms of the disease.
Click on pic for a larger image. Photo by John Evans.
If olive oil is consumed with other aspects of the Mediterranean diet, especially tomato-rich dishes, it seems to be even more effective.
Tests on rodents showed that olive oil disables a gene that controls the growth of breast cancer, while turning off proteins that cancer cells live on. More than 45,000 cases a year of breast cancer are diagnosed in Britain, making it the UK’s most common cancer.
Dr Eduard Escrich believes that everyone should consume 50ml of best olive oil a day for optimum health. That works out as around five tablespoons, or 500 calories, which may seem excessive to anyone reducing their weight. However, if the oil is substituted for butter and fats in savoury dishes, it acts as a replacement on a calorie for calorie basis.
Another study found that olive oil also affects genes that are linked with the hardening of arteries and other heart diseases.
Although Spain does have an interest in promoting olive products, this research backs up much evidence from previous studies worldwide.