Olive Oil’s Anti-Cancer Virtues

A study published in BMC Cancer has revealed that extra-virgin olive oil possesses anti-breast cancer properties.

Spanish researchers isolated polyphenols in olive oil called lignans and secoiridoids, and discovered that these types of polyphenols suppress the HER2 gene associated with breast cancer.

“Our findings reveal for the first time that all major complex phenols present in extra-virgin olive oil drastically suppress overexpression of the cancer gene HER2 in human breast cancer cells,” said Javier Menendez of the Catalan Institute of Oncology in a BioMed Central press release.

Dr. Menendez did, however, specify that the results must be corroborated with other researchers.