Plenty of foods have worn the "cancer-fighting" label for a while before later research quietly walked it back. Olive oil's been in that conversation for years. What's changed is that the evidence backing it has actually gotten stronger, though it still stops short of proving olive oil itself is doing the preventing.
The study behind the headlines
The biggest piece of evidence followed more than 11,000 women in Italy for about 13 years. Women reporting more than three tablespoons of olive oil a day were less likely to develop breast cancer than women using two tablespoons or less. The link showed up strongest for hormone receptor-negative cancers, the more aggressive, harder-to-treat kind, which is not the subtype you'd want a weak or coincidental result attached to.
How can Olive Oil be of any help?
Researchers think the answer may lie in what extra-virgin olive oil contains It contains naturally large amounts of:
Monounsaturated fats are healthier than saturated fats.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant compounds called polyphenols.
Naturally occurring antioxidants such as vitamin E, which protects cells from oxidative stress.
Laboratory research indicates these compounds might affect processes that play a role in cancer development, including inflammation, oxidative damage, and abnormal cell growth. Despite this, findings from lab studies do not always predict the same effects in humans.
Should you start using olive oil?
For most people, it's a healthy choice to substitute butter or any saturated fat with extra-virgin olive oil. Can be easily added to a heart disease and overall healthful eating plan. But olive oil is not recommended for breast cancer prevention. Nutrition, exercise, and avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and other tobacco products are much more important in lowering breast cancer risk than is any single food.
If you're already using olive oil in your cooking, there is good reason to continue. If you're considering replacing the butter or saturated fats in your diet with something else, it's one thing that's probably going to do you a lot of good, if not protect you from breast cancer