The 35p kitchen staple doctor says 'lowers common killer cancer risk'

A kitchen staple found in your fridge could help cut your risk of cancer
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


A doctor has said there is a cheap kitchen staple which can help reduce your risk of cancer. The common food item can even be eaten by people on restricted diets such as vegans.

According to Dr Joseph Salhab, eating the item can help lower your risk of bowel cancer. It can also help reduce polyps in the colon, the doctor said.

On his TikTok account @thestomachdoc, Dr Salhab said: "This one ingredient could decrease your risk of colon cancer. I'm a board-certified gastroenterologist.

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"We have studies that show us that people who ate more yoghurt actually had a lower risk of not only colon cancer but colon polyps which can be pre-cancerous." This type of cancer can also be called bowel cancer.

The doctor said there could be two reasons why yoghurt is important to your health. He said it could be down to the calcium, as well as yoghurt's probiotics and live cultures - which are found in some products.

Dr Salhab said: "We think that gut bacteria could be involved in the formation of colon cancer and gut bacteria dysfunction can certainly be one of the reasons for it. When you have good gut diversity of good bacteria, that might help lower the risk of colon cancer."

The doctor went on to say there are vegan yoghurts which provide 'the amount of calcium you need and is fortified with probiotics'. Yoghurt can be bought from as little as 35p in supermarkets such as Aldi - and you could find some cheaper if you have a smaller pot of yoghurt.

Bowel cancer is found anywhere in the large bowel - including the colon or rectum. The large bowel is part of your digestive system which helps to absorb water from your food and remove food waste from your body.

It is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK, the NHS said.

Symptoms of bowel cancer

  • Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you

  • Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you

  • Blood in your poo, which may look red or black

  • Bleeding from your bottom

  • Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet

  • Tummy pain

  • A lump in your tummy

  • Bloating

  • Losing weight without trying

  • Feeling very tired for no reason