Drinking One Glass Daily Cuts Colon Cancer Risk... Surprising Benefits Shock Everyone

Research from Oxford University, UK
"300mg of calcium in a glass of milk
reduces colorectal cancer risk by up to 17%"

Milk stock photo to aid understanding of the article. Pixabay

A study has found that drinking a glass of milk every day can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer to one-fifth.

According to reports from British media outlets The Guardian and The Telegraph on the 8th (local time), a research team from the University of Oxford stated in a paper published in the international academic journal Nature Communications that "300 mg of calcium contained in about 293 ml of milk can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 17%." The team also mentioned that calcium found in non-dairy products such as soy milk shows similar effects. On the other hand, they explained that consuming 20 g of alcohol daily, equivalent to about one glass of wine, was also found to increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 15%.

This study analyzed the impact of 97 dietary factors on colorectal cancer risk among 542,778 women participating in the "Million Women Study," a health data analysis study of women aged 50 and above. The research team reported that over approximately 17 years of follow-up, 12,251 women developed colorectal cancer, and among the dietary factors analyzed, calcium and alcohol had the greatest influence on changes in colorectal cancer risk.

Milk stock photo to aid understanding of the article. Pixabay

Dr. Karen Papi? of the University of Oxford, the first author of this study, emphasized, "There is strong evidence that calcium in dairy products helps prevent colorectal cancer." Dr. Papi? explained, "Calcium in both dairy and non-dairy products showed similar effects, suggesting that calcium is a key factor in reducing risk." She added, "Calcium binds to bile acids and free fatty acids in the colon, reducing the likelihood of colorectal cancer development." Although this study focused on postmenopausal women, she believes the protective effects of calcium will also apply to men and younger populations.

Dr. Sophia Rows from Cancer Research UK, which funded the research, stated, "Maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and following a healthy and balanced diet reduce the risk of colorectal cancer," adding, "It is important to reduce alcohol, red meat, and processed meat consumption while increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains."