February is National Cancer Prevention Month in the United States.
This study found long-term consumption of two or more servings of yogurt per week was linked to a 20% lower rate of colorectal cancer.
Why is yogurt so effective at battling cancer?
Yogurt is not only just part of a delicious breakfast.
A new study led by Mass General Brigham researchers found it may also have protective benefits against a certain type of aggressive colon cancer.
Study authors analyzed data totaling over 150,000 people who answered questionnaires about lifestyle factors and disease outcomes, including questions about their intake of plain and flavored yogurt, as well as other dairy products.
These participants were followed for at least three decades.
Researchers found people who ate two or more servings of yogurt a week had lower rates of proximal colon cancer that were positive for Bifidobacterium, according to the study published in the peer-reviewed journal Gut Microbes.
“It has long been believed that yogurt and other fermented milk products are beneficial for gastrointestinal health,” said co-senior author Dr. Tomotaka Ugai, a pathology investigator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Our new findings suggest that this protective effect may be specific for Bifidobacterium-positive tumors.”
Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth-leading cause in women, according to the American Cancer Society.
The organization estimates
