Berry good news in the fight against breast cancer
Strawberries have been shown to stave off aggressive breast cancer in laboratory studies.
Scientists tested an extract from the fruit on laboratory-grown cancer cells and female mice with breast cancer tumours.
After five weeks on a strawberry-boosted diet, the mice showed no sign of progressing cancer spread and their tumours had shrunk.
Dr Maurizio Battino, from the Marche Polytechnic University in Italy, said: "We...saw a significant reduction in the weight and volume of the tumour."
The cancer cells used in the experiments were from a highly aggressive and invasive strain. However, the researchers stressed that results from animal tests do not necessarily mean the same effects will be seen in humans.
Previous studies have already shown that eating between 10 and 15 strawberries a day can make arteries healthier by reducing blood cholesterol levels.
Phenolic plant compounds in the fruits are thought to be responsible for the beneficial effects.