Nuts are often touted as a dietary wonder food, with Brazil nuts recommended to keep wrinkles at bay and pistachios to boost your immune system.

The latest research has found that eating walnuts on a regular basis could have an effect on breast cancer.

Scientists say eating two handfuls of the delicious nuts a day could “significantly” decrease a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

The study, carried out by researchers at the Marshall University in the US, showed consuming walnuts reduced breast cancer tumours in mice.

The study’s lead researcher Elaine Hardman explained: “Food is important medicine in our diet.”

“What we put into our bodies makes a big difference – it determines how the body functions, our reaction to illness and health.”

She added: “The simple stuff really works: eat right, get off the couch, and turn off the TV.”

Walnuts have other health benefits, including protecting the heart. A report published in ScienceDaily in 2006 said: “New research shows that consuming a handful of raw walnuts along with meals high in saturated fat appears to limit the ability of the harmful fat to damage arteries.”