Research has found that prolonged consumption of this food might modify the gut microbiome in ways that offer protection against certain cancers
A simple breakfast food could significantly lower your risk of bowel cancer, according to one expert. The NHS says bowel cancer is one of the most common types of the disease in the UK.
It can be found anywhere in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum. The large bowel is part of your digestive system. It helps absorb water from your food and removes food waste from your body.
How serious bowel cancer is depends on how big the cancer is, if it has spread, and your general health. Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, has shared his insights on The Conversation website, discussing how recent research indicates a certain morning meal can offer protection against cancer. This comes as health experts also recently outlined the little-known warning signs of lung cancer, as reported by ChronicleLive.
The medical community is alarmed by the sharp rise in colorectal cancer cases among people under 55, which has doubled worldwide in recent years. Diet, particularly the increase in ultra-processed foods, is believed to be a major contributing factor.
Prof Stebbing said: “As a consultant oncologist, many people have asked me how their risk can be reduced.” He pointed out: “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.
“The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in overall health, influencing digestion, immune function and even cancer risk.” He further explained that: “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.”
Professor Stebbing believes yoghurt can be beneficial because it contains live cultures of helpful bacteria, including lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus thermophilus, which can help preserve this equilibrium, reports the Mirror. He explained: “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.”
An investigation examined data from more than 150,000 participants monitored over several decades, suggesting that prolonged yoghurt consumption might modify the gut microbiome in ways that offer protection against certain cancers.
Scientists questioned the participants every two years regarding their yoghurt consumption, and assessed the levels of Bifidobacterium (a bacterial strain present in yoghurt) in the tumour tissue of 3,079 individuals from the sample who developed colorectal cancer. Whilst yoghurt didn’t directly reduce the risk for all forms of colorectal cancer, individuals who consumed two or more servings of yoghurt weekly showed a reduced risk of developing “Bifidobacterium-positive proximal colon cancer”, a variant of colorectal cancer that develops in the right side of the colon and has amongst the poorest survival rates.
Nutritional scientist Prof Tim Spector, the brains behind the Zoe app, says he tucks into yoghurt “most days of the week” due to its benefits for a healthy gut microbiome – a key player in digestion and maintaining a robust immune system. He added: “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.”
He further noted in his video caption: “By choosing fat containing yoghurts I feel fuller for longer and I also prefer the taste.” Yoghurt is packed with calcium, making it a champion for bone health and a deterrent against osteoporosis.
Regular indulgence in yoghurt has also been linked to lower blood pressure and a diminished risk of cardiovascular disease. Some research even hints that yoghurt consumption might be instrumental in warding off type 2 diabetes and other illnesses.
Symptoms of bowel cancer
According to the NHS, symptoms of bowel cancer may include:
- changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- bleeding from your bottom
- often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
- tummy pain
- a lump in your tummy
- bloating
- losing weight without trying
- feeling very tired or short of breath – these are signs of anaemia, which can be caused by bowel cancer
The NHS experts said: “Some of these symptoms are very common and can be caused by other conditions. Having the symptoms does not definitely mean you have bowel cancer, but it’s important to get checked by a GP. If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it’s easier to treat.”
