A GLASS of milk per day could slash your risk of bowel cancer by a fifth, a study has found.
Cancer Research UK scientists say calcium appears to protect the gut.
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They studied the diets of half a million British women to find out which foods are best and worst for cancer risk.
People who consumed 300mg of calcium more than average each day – about equal to a large glass of the white stuff – had a 17 per cent lower danger.
Calcium from any source appeared to have the same impact and it is also found in yoghurt, cheese, bread and sardines.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common types in the UK and around 44,000 people are diagnosed each year.
Cancer Research says half of cases could be prevented by healthier living.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK so it is vital that we know how to prevent it
Sophia Lowes
Study author Dr Keren Papier, from Oxford University, said: “This is the most comprehensive study ever conducted into the relationship between diet and bowel cancer.
“It highlights the protective role of calcium in the development of this disease.”
Dr Papier’s study, published in the journal Nature Communications, tested the links between bowel cancer and 97 different foods.
Alcohol and meat were found to increase a person’s chance of a tumour.
The data showed a glass of wine per day above average increased risk by 15 per cent, while every extra 30g of red or processed meat increased it by eight per cent.
Sophia Lowes, from Cancer Research UK, said: “Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting people in the UK so it is vital that we know how to prevent it.
“Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, alongside keeping a healthy weight and stopping smoking, is one of the best ways to lower your risk of bowel cancer.
“This includes cutting down on alcohol and red and processed meat, and eating lots of fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains.
“Dairy products like milk can also be part of a diet which reduces bowel cancer risk.
“We look forward to further research, including into the effects of specific ingredients like calcium, to ensure fewer people are impacted by this devastating disease.”
What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer?
IT’S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest – yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough.
While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease.
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver.
If you notice any of the signs, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
- A change in your normal toilet habits – going more frequently for example
- Pain or a lump in your tummy
- Extreme tiredness
- Losing weight
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs include:
- Gripping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation and being unable to pass wind
- Being sick
- Feeling like you need to strain – like doing a number two – but after you’ve been to the loo
While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools.
But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.
