LONDON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cutting an intake of asparagus and other foods may slow down the spread of breast cancer, according to an article published in the journal Nature.

Asparagine, an amino acid derived from various foods like asparagus, fish and nuts, could likely expedite the spread of breast cancer, according to research out of Cambridge University.

Examining data from mice and human tumors, the scientists found that asparagine would increase the risk of the disease spreading, leading patients to die sooner.

Reducing the ingestion of asparagine may benefit patients, but Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, Britain's largest breast cancer research charity, said in a statement, "We don't recommend patients totally exclude any specific food group from their diet without speaking to their doctors."