November 16/Madrid/Right Vision News -- Olive oil may help prevent and even fight breast cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain, and published in the journal Carcinogenesis.

The researchers found that olive oil appeared to protect rat DNA from the damage that can lead to cancer. Furthermore, it seemed to deactivate key proteins required for the continued survival of breast cancer cells.

Because the benefits were only seen in rats who consumed olive oil over the long term, researcher Eduard Escrich recommends that everyone consume 50mL (10 teaspoons) of high-quality, extra-virgin olive oil each day.

Previous studies have linked olive oil to a lowered risk of certain kinds of cancer. Olive oil is also a critical component of the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with a lower risk of not only cancer, but also heart disease and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

From the November 29, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition