Glass of milk could reduce the risk of bowel cancer, new study shows
Consuming an extra 300mg of calcium a day, roughly the amount in a large glass of milk, could be linked to reducing the risk of bowel cancer, new research has revealed.
The research, which has been called the “most comprehensive single study ever conducted into the relationship between diet and bowel cancer”, found that eating foods like milk and yoghurt which are rich in calcium, could lead to a lower risk of developing bowel cancer.
Using data from more than half a million women to investigate the link between the disease and 97 dietary products and nutrients, researchers from the University of Oxford found that non-dairy calcium products like dark leafy green vegetables could also be effective.
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There are about 44,100 cases of bowel cancer in the UK every year, which makes it the fourth most common cancer. Sophia Lowes, Cancer Research's senior health information manager, said: “Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting people in the UK, which is why it’s so vital that we know how to prevent it.”
The study also found that drinking an additional 20g of alcohol a day was found to increase the risk of bowel cancer, and red and processed meat was also linked. 'Processed' refers to any meat that has been treated by adding chemical preservatives such as nitrates and includes ham, bacon, corned beef, and some sausages like salami and chorizo.
Lowes said that along with keeping a healthy weight and stopping smoking “maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is one of the best ways to lower your risk of bowel cancer”.
She said this involves “cutting down on alcohol and red and processed meat, and eating lots of fruit, vegetables and wholegrains”.
According to Dr Karen Papier, lead researcher of the study that was funded by Cancer Research UK and the UK Medical Research Council, we have “some idea on why calcium has this effect”.
She said: “It’s suggested that calcium might protect against bowel cancer by binding to bile acids and free fatty acids to form a type of harmless ‘soap’, which stops them from damaging the lining of our gut.”
It is not always known what causes bowel cancer, but according to the NHS it can be caused by environmental factors, lifestyle, and genetic changes. Certain health conditions could also make you more at risk of developing the disease.
You can be more likely to get bowel cancer if you are over 50, smoke, are overweight, have inflammatory bowel disease, have bowel polyps or Lynch Syndrome. If a close relative has bowel cancer, this could also put you more at risk, the NHS says. Eating healthily, including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, can lower your risk of bowel cancer as well as staying active and losing weight if you’re overweight.