SAN DIEGO -- A surprising new study in the Journal Of Clinical Nutrition finds Mexican food may help prevent breast cancer.

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The study, released Tuesday, describes a native Mexican diet as one full of soups, legumes, tomato-based sauces, meat and Mexican cheeses. And whether it's topped off with chili or not, it seems to be good news for women who eat Mexican food at least four times a week.

Hispanic women told NBC 7/39 they believe it's the chili in Mexican food that may prevent breast cancer.

"My grandmother used to say chili is healing, it heals," said Toni Jaquez.

Other diets studied were a Mediterranean diet, a low-fat low-calorie diet, and a western diet. The western diet showed the greatest risk of breast cancer, especially in women who mainly ate sugary foods, refined grains and fast food.

The new study surveyed both Hispanic and white women. But researchers said it's still unclear why the different diets either reduce or increase the risk of breast cancer.

Dr. James Cevallos said diet is one small influence when measuring a woman's risk.

"Family history is super important as far as breast cancer risk. Does your mother or sister have breast cancer?" he said.

Cevallos also said a woman's best protection against breast cancer is to eat healthy and get regular mammograms.

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