Colon cancer is rising exponentially among youth and while the reasons behind the sharp spike in recent years remain unclear, experts feel unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, and being overweight could be driving the number of cases.
The gut microbiome houses an astounding 1,000 species of microorganisms and plays a crucial role in maintaining gut health, supporting immunity, and protecting against harmful pathogens.
A study published in journal Frontiers shows that imbalances in gut bacteria (dysbiosis) contribute to various diseases, including colorectal cancer, by triggering inflammation and producing harmful microbial metabolites.
Eating a diet rich in probiotics like yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, and kimchi can help make gut microbiome healthy and also fight colorectal cancer. Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that help balance the gut microbiome and may prevent inflammation and colorectal cancer. They work by producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), supporting immunity, strengthening the gut barrier, and promoting cancer cell death, according to Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology.
Yoghurt’s role in preventing colon cancer
A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Gut Microbes examines yoghurt’s role in preventing a type of aggressive colon cancer.
The Mass General Brigham researchers collected data from 150,000 people over three decades via a series of questionnaires about lifestyle factors and disease outcomes. This also included questions about their intake of plain and flavoured yogurt, apart from other dairy products.
The researchers discovered that people who had two or more servings of yogurt a week had lower rates of proximal colon cancer that were positive for Bifidobacterium.
What is Proximal colon cancer?
Also known as right-sided colon cancer, proximal colon cancer is much aggressive than distal colon cancer that occurs on the left side of the colon. It has worse survival outcomes also than cancers found on the left side.
“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 occurs when the cells grow abnormally in the lining of the large bowel (colon) or rectum.
It is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth-leading cause in women, according to the American Cancer Society. Nearly 53,000 people are estimated to die from it in 2025.
Symptoms of colorectal cancer could be changes in your stool, diarrhoea or constipation that isn’t usual, increase in frequency of visiting toilet, blood in your stool which may look red or black, bleeding from your bottom, feeling the need to pass stools frequently, stomach pain, a lump in your tummy, bloating, losing weight without trying, and feeling very tired for no reason.
Unhealthy food habits like consuming large amounts of red and processed meat and low intake of fibre may contribute to the cancer risk. Obesity, lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use, sleep deprivation, and other factors can also raise the risk of colorectal cancer.
While the incidence of colorectal cancer is older adults is declining, the rates have been sharply on rise for people under 55.
A glass of milk can prevent colorectal cancer too!
As per a study by University of Oxford researchers published in Nature Communications, adding a glass of milk to the daily diet can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Researchers found that having adequate calcium can help slash risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Eat fibre-rich foods
Consuming fibre-rich foods can help remove possible carcinogens and also support optimum gut flora, which can contribute to the prevention of colorectal cancer. Eat loads of fruits, vegetables and whole grains to prevent risk of colon cancer.