Josep Suria/Shutterstock Why eating yoghurt regularly could lower your risk of bowel cancer
Hard on the heels of impressive research findings that a glass of milk is good for reducing cancer risk , another recent study has highlighted the potential benefits of yoghurt consumption in lowering the risk of certain types of cancer – particularly colorectal cancer.
The number of new colorectal cancer cases among people under 55 has doubled globally in recent years , with diagnoses increasing by nearly 20%. As a consultant oncologist, many people have asked me how their risk can be reduced.
The emerging evidence suggests that regular yoghurt consumption may have a protective effect against certain aggressive forms of colorectal cancer by modifying the gut microbiome , the natural bacteria that live in the gut.
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in overall health, influencing digestion, immune function and even cancer risk. The gut bacteria can live inside cancer itself, and in general a healthy balance of these bacteria is thought to be essential for maintaining a strong immune system and preventing inflammation, which can contribute to cancer development .
Read more: Gut bacteria nurture the immune system – for cancer patients, a diverse microbiome can protect against dangerous treatment complications
Yoghurt contains live cultures of beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus thermophilus , which can help maintain this balance.
The study found that consuming two or more servings of yoghurt per week was associated with a lower risk of a specific type of aggressive colorectal cancer, which occurs on the right side of the colon and is associated with poorer survival outcomes compared with cancers on the left side.
The study analysed data from over 150,000 participants followed for several decades, indicating that long-term yoghurt consumption may alter the gut microbiome in ways that protect against certain cancers. Researchers surveyed the participants every two years about their yoghurt intake, and measured the amount of Bifidobacterium ( a type of bacteria found in yoghurt ) in the tumour tissue of 3,079 people within the sample who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer.While yoghurt did not directly […]
Why eating yoghurt regularly could lower your risk of bowel cancer
