
We’ve all heard the saying, “an apple a day can help keep the doctor away,” but now scientists are suggesting adding something else to your daily routine to reduce the risk of bowel cancer.
Researchers from the University of Oxford have identified a key item that could protect against this deadly disease—and the good news is, it’s likely already in your fridge.
Their study, published in Nature Communications, examined 97 dietary factors and their link to bowel cancer risk, using data from 542,778 women who participated in the Million Women Study.
Bowel cancer, often referred to as the “silent killer” cancer—which the NHS defines as cancer occurring anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum—has been increasing among younger individuals in recent years. According to the American Cancer Society, it is the leading cause of cancer death in men and the second leading cause in women.
The Oxford research team discovered that out of all the factors analyzed, two had the greatest impact on altering bowel cancer risk.

Consuming the equivalent of a glass of wine daily was found to raise the risk of bowel cancer by 15 percent, whereas calcium appeared to have the opposite effect.
Researchers revealed that drinking a glass of milk each day could lower the risk of bowel cancer by nearly 20 percent.
Dr. Keren Papier, the study’s lead researcher, noted that more research is required but stated, “This is the most comprehensive single study ever conducted into the relationship between diet and bowel cancer, and it highlights the protective role of calcium in the development of this disease.”