This Drink May Drop Your Colon Cancer Risk

Today’s topic? This drink may drop your colon cancer risk.

As an oncologist, I help individuals with cancer.

I read so much about foods that might increase your cancer risk.

Bacon.

Sausages.

Red meat.

Processed foods in general.

Burned foods (and acrylamides).

I am pleased to report some positive news today.

Two recent investigations add to growing evidence indicating that dairy consumption is associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer.

Background

These studies are not the first to demonstrate a relationship between dairy and a lower risk of colorectal cancer.

For instance, a large review of past studies examined how eating dairy affects the chances of getting colorectal cancer. 

The review included information from over 22,000 people. Here are the findings:

• Overall Dairy. Studies that followed people over time (cohort studies) showed that people who ate more dairy had a 20% lower risk of colorectal cancer than those who ate less.
• Milk: Specifically looking at milk, those who drank more had an 18% lower risk.
• High-Fat Dairy: Interestingly, high-fat dairy seemed to have the biggest impact, with a 32% lower risk of colorectal cancer for those who ate more.

• Low-Fat Dairy & Fermented Dairy: The review found no strong link between eating more low-fat or fermented dairy products (like yogurt) and a lower risk of colorectal cancer. However, they noted that there weren’t many studies on fermented dairy, so more research is needed there.

In short, this large review suggests that eating more dairy, especially high-fat dairy and milk, might help lower the risk of colorectal cancer. 

The link wasn’t as clear for low-fat or fermented dairy, possibly because there were fewer studies.

Yogurt Reduces Colon Cancer Risk

A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies in Frontiers in Nutrition focused solely on yogurt.

The results?

Yogurt consumption appeared to be associated with a small reduction (about one-eighth) in colorectal cancer risk.

How might yogurt reduce colon cancer risk?

Fermented foods are packed with live tiny organisms that act like probiotics. 

These probiotics can boost the good bacteria in your gut. 

This improvement is helpful because it can:

• Help your body soak up nutrients better.
• Make your immune system stronger by fighting off inflammation.
• Encourage cells to gobble up harmful invaders (phagocytosis).

New Data

Two new studies add to the growing evidence that eating more dairy might lower colorectal cancer risk.

One study, published in Nature Communications, followed over 540,000 women in the UK for 16 years. 

Researchers found that for every 200 grams of dairy milk the women consumed daily, their risk of colorectal cancer dropped by 14 percent (about one-seventh). 

They also saw an 8 percent lower risk for every 50 grams of yogurt eaten daily.

The second study, published in GutMicrobes, focused specifically on yogurt and a type of bacteria called Bifidobacterium, which is often found in it. 

This study found that people who ate at least two servings of yogurt a week had a one-fifth lower risk of developing Bifidobacterium-containing tumors than those who ate less than one serving of yogurt a month. 

This finding suggests that yogurt might be particularly helpful in preventing this specific type of tumor.

My Take – This Drink May Drop Your Colon Cancer Risk

Higher consumption of dairy is associated with a lower risk of colon and rectal cancer.

More frequent consumption of yogurt is linked to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, especially tumors containing Bifidobacterium.

These studies add to the ongoing research exploring the potential benefits of dairy consumption in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer.

Action – This Drink May Drop Your Colon Cancer Risk

Sometimes, our genes are like a loaded gun.

Environmental insults (or bad luck) may be what pulls the trigger.

In this context, I am trying to optimize my microbiome.

More yogurt.

And you?

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