Bounty

Eating just one small mushroom a day can reduce the risk of pre-menopausal women developing breast cancer, research by a cancer centre has revealed.

The Republic of Korea National Cancer Centre conducted research amongst 358 women with breast cancer to a group of 360 cancer-free controls, examining mushroom intake and breast cancer risk. Those eating mushrooms had the least risk of breast cancer the study showed.

The study was published in the Journal of Nutrition and Cancer.

Mushroom Bureau spokesperson, Stephen Allen said: "We welcome these latest findings and fully support any research into discovering ways to help beat breast cancer.

"This latest research, which indicated that the consumption of mushrooms may help lower the risk for breast cancer amongst pre-menopausal, further supports the indication that mushrooms can have a positive effect on diet. Not only are they low in calories, fat, saturates and salt, they are high in filling fibre and can boost our intakes of vital vitamins and minerals which help us stay healthy."

Two further studies published in 2009 and 2008 have also shown that the consumption of mushrooms could be linked to a lower risk of breast cancer.