Olive Oil is a Breast Cancer Fighter and More

by: Derrell Jones

(NaturalNews) The therapeutic effects of olive oil are both wondrous and unquestioned. Used since the most ancient of times olives and olive oil are an important aspect of the Mediterranean diet or any diet for that matter. Hippocrates declared that our food should be our medicine and one of the best places to start is with olive oil.

In 2009 1 in 8 women were affected by breast cancer. Many women, and some men as well, have a predisposition for this terrible disease. But there is no need to despair because there are natural and holistic methods for combating breast cancer and one of those ways is healthy eating habits that includes using olive oil. Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat packed full of antioxidants. The components that make up olive oil have been shown to slow the growth of tumors in breast tissue. It seems the oil inhibits certain proteins that cancer cells need in order to grow. Olive oil also protects our DNA from damage caused by harmful cancer cells.

Dr. Eduard Escrich, as part of a research team with Universitat Autonoma in Barcelona, has conducted preliminary testing on rats which have successfully shown that rats fed an olive oil diet had slower tumor growth. Dr. Escrich cautiously advises about the potential benefits of olive oil based on the study and goes on to say that what we eat is an important aspect of cancer promotion or prevention. The researchers are planning to conduct human trials but have concluded to this point that daily ingestion of 10 teaspoons of olive oil is recommended for optimal benefit.

Olive oil has already been linked to good heart health, reduced allergies, and lower risk of Type II Diabetes, depression and an overall lower risk of cancer. In addition, a healthy diet enriched with olive oil is known for its ability to assist in weight loss which is especially important in women who are battling breast cancer or wish to stave it off. Obesity is a risk factor for cancer and increased body mass is linked to cancer recurrence and a host of other chronic ailments. A person on a Mediterranean styled diet which would most definitely include the use of olive oil can experience a decrease in triglyceride levels and higher HDL cholesterol levels providing for greater fortification against breast cancer recurrence. With all of these benefits adding some cold pressed extra virgin olive oil to your eating plan is a prudent and delicious choice.