Bowel cancer risk

Reduced by plant foods

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer and the fourth most common cause of cancer death worldwide This large, multi-ethnic study looked at the diets of around 80,000 men and 93,000 women in the US They found that men who ate the most fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, pulses, nuts and seeds had a 22 per cent lower risk of developing bowel cancer compared to those eating the least The link was not seen in women

They suggest fibre, which is only found in plant foods, might be responsible along with compounds in fruit and vegetables called polyphenols and carotenoids, which have antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties The beneficial effects of plant foods on the gut microbiota may also play a role Women in general consume more plant foods and less animal foods compared to men so they might already be obtaining the benefit

These findings support eating more healthy plant foods and reducing animal foods to help prevent bowel cancer