Milk recudes risk of colon cancer!

One glass of milk each day will likely reduce your risk for colon cancer.

Milk recudes risk of colon cancer! Research indicates that drinking 1 glass of milk each day will likely help you to lower your risk of colon cancer. This was the overall result reported from 10 large studies: people who drank more than 1 glass (8 ounces) of milk each day, were 15% less likely to develop colon cancer than people who drank less than 2 glasses each week.

Lead researcher Eunyoung Cho, ScD, describes: “While researchers and physicians do not yet know what causes colorectal cancer, the results of this study have brought us even closer to understanding how to reduce the risk of this disease.” A group led by researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston published their findings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Vol. 96, No. 13: 1015-1022). Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among both men and women in the United States (excluding skin cancers). More than 146,000 people will be diagnosed with this disease in 2004, and more than 56,000 people are expected to die from it. Doctors know that some food choices — like eating a diet high in animal fat — can increase a person’s risk of developing this disease. But it’s less clear whether specific foods or nutrients can also protect against colon cancer. THE EVIDENCE POINTS AT CALCIUM!! Many studies have examined the relationship between calcium and colon cancer risk, and some have found a protective effect. By looking at data from 10 large studies, the new research provides stronger evidence of that effect. The studies contained information about both dietary calcium — from dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt – as well as total calcium – from food and from supplements. Calcium intake overall had a significant effect on colon cancer risk. People who got the highest amounts of total calcium — 1,100 milligrams a day or more — reduced their risk by about 21% compared to people who got only 500 milligrams of calcium a day. When the researchers examined the effects of calcium from food alone, only milk had a significant effect on colon cancer risk. However, milk was the most common dairy product consumed; fewer people ate yogurt or cheese, so if those foods had an effect it may not have been apparent in the analysis. The calcium in milk may not be the only nutrient at work, though. Milk also contains vitamin D, which may also have a protective effect. Or the two nutrients may work together to provide protection. It is difficult for researchers to tease out the effects of individual nutrients, especially when found in the same foods. MORE ABOUT THE HEALTH OF YOUR COLON: • Colon cleanse: how to cherish your health • The benefits of colon hydrotherapy • About the function of your colon • Risk factors for colon cancer • News about your colon & colonics * Source: Cancer.org