You bet it can.

You just have to make sure to sprinkle it with olive oil. Yes, I know olive oil is full of fat. And many women over a certain age would no sooner use olive oil than dye their hair blue. But here‘s the difference: Olive oil contains mono-unsaturated fats that are healthy -- even vital -- for you. And if you‘re a woman, it may even protect you against breast cancer.

Truthfully, the fact that olive oil is good for you is nothing new. But here‘s what IS new: Now we know why. Recently, Spanish researchers uncovered the mechanism in olive oil that makes it so good for us: It blocks the activity of p21Ras.

What‘s p21Ras?

It‘s a gene that stimulates the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. So by "turning off" this gene, you block the cancer cells from ever taking hold. And olive oil does just that.

Plus, researchers also discovered that olive oil protects the DNA in the cell nucleus. And this is really where cancer begins. It occurs when one tiny cell nucleus gets damaged. And then, instead of dying, this damaged cell multiplies. But olive oil protects the nucleus of your cells from ever mutating.

So make sure you get a little olive oil every day. Your cells will thank you.