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Eating walnuts may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, a study reports.

Research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting found that mice eating the human equivalent of two ounces of the nuts every day developed fewer and smaller tumours than those on a normal diet.

Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytosterols, all of which may help reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Researcher Dr Elaine Hardman, of Marshall University School of Medicine, said putting these components together in one package - a walnut - provides very good cancer suppression.

"We know that a healthy diet overall prevents all manner of chronic diseases," she added. "It is clear that walnuts contribute to a healthy diet that can reduce breast cancer."

Previous research has shown that eating walnuts at the end of a meal can help protect the arteries from damage by fatty foods.

One in nine women will develop breast cancer at some point during their lives and the disease kills 12,300 women each year, according to Breast Cancer UK.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 at 4:00 pm and is filed under Cancer.