Here's one more reason to cut back on high-fat food. A study featured on The Huffington Post reveals that a certain chemical by-product of cholesterol may accelerate the spread of breast cancer.

Researchers from the US worked with laboratory mice and found that 27HC (72-hydroxycholesterol), a by-product of cholesterol, mimics the hormone estrogen, which, in turn, stimulates tumor growth.

Further study of human cell samples also showed that the more aggressive tumors end up creating enzymes that generate 27HC from cholesterol.

“Human breast tumours, because they express this enzyme to make 27HC, are making an estrogen-like molecule that can promote the growth of the tumor,” says lead scientist Dr. Donald McDonnel. “In essence, the tumours have developed a mechanism to use a different source of fuel.”

This is why it’s important for breast cancer patients, and even healthy individuals, to lessen their intake of cholesterol-rich food. Living a generally healthy lifestyle may also help lower your risk of risk of getting sick.

(Photo by Eric Molina via Flickr Creative Commons)