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.
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.
[quote credit=”Sophia Lowes” credit-meta=”Cancer Research UK”]Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK so it is vital that we know how to prevent it[/quote]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.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Sun Health Explainer: Bowel Cancer” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6345629822112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]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.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D102117%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]“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.”