A staple breakfast food has been found to reduce the chances of developing bowel cancer, which has seen a huge increase in cases in recent years among people aged under 55
People can reduce your chance of developing bowel cancer by eating one breakfast food each day, says a scientist. Professor Justin Stebbing, of Anglia Ruskin University said that a recent study had found that yoghurt could have a protective impact against cancers developing.
Doctors have admitted that the big increase in colorectal cancer cases among people under 55 is causing concern with it having doubled globally in the last few years. It is thought that diet is a big factor in this – especially the rise of ultra-processed foods.
“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, ” wrote Prof Stebbing in The Conversation.
“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.”
The reason Prof Stebbing thinks yoghurt can help is because it contains live cultures of beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus thermophilus, which can help maintain this balance, reported SurreyLive.
He said: “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.”
READ MORE: Early cancer signs and symptoms you should watch for – according to NHS doctor
Research analysed 150,000 people
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 lower the risk for all types of colorectal cancer, those who ate two or more servings of yoghurt per week had a lower risk of developing bifidobacterium-positive proximal colon cancer, a type of colorectal cancer that occurs in the right side of the colon and has one of the lowest survival rates.
Nutritional scientist Prof Tim Spector, founder of the Zoe app, said he eats yoghurt “most days of the week” as it is ideal for a healthy gut microbiome – something that can aid digestion and keep your immune system strong.
Tim said: “For yoghurts I never go for fat-free products. I don’t like the taste of them and they’re not good for my sugar spikes either.” In the video caption he added: “By choosing fat containing yoghurts I feel fuller for longer and I also prefer the taste.”
Yoghurt has calcium meaning it’s good for bones and staving off osteoporosis. Regular yoghurt consumption has also been associated with lower blood pressure and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Some studies suggest that yoghurt intake may help prevent type 2 diabetes and other diseases too.
There are nearly 45,000 cases of bowel cancer every year in the UK, making it the nation’s fourth most common cancer, and third worldwide – but many of these are preventable. According to Cancer Research UK data, 54% of all bowel cancers could be prevented by having a healthier lifestyle. Smoking, lack of exercise, alcohol, eating processed meat, and poor diet are all significant factors in the development of bowel cancer.
