A glass of milk a day may reduce bowel cancer risk

A large UK study has found further evidence that people who eat more calcium – equivalent to a glass of milk a day – in their diets can help reduce their risk of bowel cancer.

Researchers analyzed the diets of more than 500,000 women over 16 years and found that dark leafy green vegetables, bread and non-dairy foods containing calcium were also protective.

They also found more evidence that consuming too much alcohol and processed meat can have the opposite effect, increasing the risk of disease.

Cancer charities say a healthy balanced diet, a healthy weight and stopping smoking are the best ways to reduce the risk of bowel cancer.

A recent review found that dairy products “may” reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

this studyResearch from the University of Oxford and Cancer Research UK suggests it depends on whether the calcium is in dairy or non-dairy products.

• Adding an extra 300 milligrams of calcium to your diet every day, or a large glass of milk, can reduce your risk by 17%

Lead researcher Dr Keren Papier, from the University of Oxford, said: “It highlights the potential protective role of dairy products in the development of bowel cancer, mainly due to calcium.”

Breakfast cereals, fruit, whole grains, carbohydrates, fiber and vitamin C have also been shown to reduce cancer risk, but only to a limited extent.

As we all know, Eating too much processed and red meat may increase your risk of bowel cancer, Same Alcohol.

This study provides more evidence of this link:

• An extra glass of wine, or 0.7 ounces (20 grams) of alcohol per day, increases your risk by 15%
• Eating an extra ounce of red and processed meat (such as a slice of ham) per day increases risk by 8%

Quantifying exactly what these percentages mean is tricky because everyone has a different risk of bowel cancer, depending on their lifestyle, diet, habits and genetics.

calcium It is an important mineral that strengthens bones and keeps teeth healthy, but there is growing evidence that it may also protect against certain cancers.

Milk, yogurt and cheese contain high amounts of calcium. Dairy is one of the main sources in the British diet (we love our morning cereals).

it also exists in other food Examples include soy and rice drinks, white bread, nuts, seeds and fruits such as dried figs, kale and canned sardines, and is also found in lactose-free milk.

Calcium protects against bowel cancer “because of its ability to bind to bile acids and free fatty acids in the colon, reducing their potential carcinogenic effects,” the study said.

There are around 44,000 cases of bowel cancer in the UK each year, making it the fourth most common cancer.

Although most cases are among the elderly, Cancer rates are rising in young people under 50 – but there's no clear reason why.

Experts say poor diet and obesity may be factors.

Bowel cancer symptoms include:

• Changes in bowel habits, such as loose stools, more frequent bowel movements, or constipation
• Bleeding from the butt or blood in the stool
• When you haven't tried to lose weight yet
• Unexplained tiredness or difficulty breathing

It is recommended that you consult your doctor if you notice any of these conditions.

This is an observational study, not a trial, so it cannot definitively prove that calcium or any other food prevents cancer or increases the likelihood of cancer.

However, the researchers say the study is “the largest study to date on diet and bowel cancer”, which gives them confidence they are on the right track. The research results are also consistent with previous research conclusions.

The study involved more than 12,000 women with bowel cancer and looked at nearly 100 foods and nutrients in their diets to assess potential links.

Professor Janet Cade, a nutrition expert at the University of Leeds, said the paper “provides important evidence that overall diet can influence colorectal cancer risk”.

Professor Andrew Prentice, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, wondered whether calcium supplements might have a protective effect based on the findings, although he said “the jury is still out on that”.

The key message from Professor Tom Saunders of King's College London is that “drinking more than the safe limit for alcohol intake (more than 14 units a week) increases a woman's risk of colorectal cancer, but about half as much” a day A pint of milk may be protective.”

Dr Lisa Wilde, from the charity Bowel Cancer UK, said someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer “every 12 minutes” and half of bowel cancers can be prevented through a healthier lifestyle.

“If you don't drink milk, you can get calcium in other ways, such as from broccoli or tofu, and still reduce your risk of bowel cancer,” she says.