Dr Joseph Salhab aka @thestomachdoc on TikTok has shared the one item that can help reduce your risk of cancer, and it’s something that everyone can incorporate into their diet
A top doctor has offered up advice on a crucial addition to your diet if you want to reduce the risk of cancer.
Taking to TikTok, Dr Joseph Salhab – known as @thestomachdoc – claims that one particular product could be potent in staving off not just colon cancer but also precancerous polyps. In the video that’s taken social media by storm, he asserts: “This one ingredient could decrease your risk of colon cancer.
“I’m a board-certified gastroenterologist. 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”. Labelled as bowel cancer in some circles, the doc suggests two key players in yogurt’s cancer-combatting role: calcium, which “we know lowers your risk of colon cancer”, and possibly the probiotics and live cultures found in some yogurts.
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.”
For vegans and those who can’t consume dairy, an expert suggests that “you can find a vegan yoghurt that gives you the amount of calcium you need and is fortified with probiotics” which means “you might actually get the benefits” necessary to reduce your risk. This product can be bought for as little as 35p in supermarkets like Aldi, and possibly even cheaper if you choose a smaller yoghurt pot.
Bowel cancer, a type of cancer that can occur anywhere in the large bowel including both the colon and rectum, is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK. The large bowel plays a vital role in our digestive system, helping to absorb water from our food and remove food waste from our bodies, reports the Express.
The severity of bowel cancer depends on the size of the cancer, whether it has spread, and your overall health condition. With its prevalence, people are encouraged to be aware of the signs and symptoms, with the NHS emphasising that “bowel cancer screening can pick up bowel cancer early, which may mean it’s easier to treat.”
Symptoms of bowel cancer
Bowel cancer symptoms can include anaemia (a condition where you have fewer red blood cells than usual), leading to extreme fatigue, shortness of breath and headaches. The NHS advises individuals to call 111 or request an urgent GP appointment if they notice their poo is black or dark red, or if they have bloody diarrhoea.
However, you should dial 999 immediately if you’re experiencing uncontrolled bleeding from your bottom or if there’s a significant amount of blood, such as the toilet water turning red or large blood clots being visible.
