Study Finds Links Between Healthy Plant-Based Diets And Lower Colorectal Cancer Risk

There are several health benefits of switching to a plant based diet. Consuming a plant-based diet helps in improving the gut health for a better absorption of nutrients from food which supports the immune system and reduces inflammation. It is rich in fiber which lowers cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar level and it’s also good for proper bowel management.

According to a recent study, the risk of developing colorectal cancer is increased due to obesity, or if someone is overweight, or smokes regularly, and eats a diet high in red or processed meat.

The study was published in the journal BMC Medicine. The researchers involved 79,952 men and 93,475 women who were then followed up. The participants were between the ages of 45 and 75 years and they were later assessed based on a self-reported questionnaire.

Upon analysis, the researchers found that particularly healthy plant-based diets, were linked to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer in men, and not so much in women. In addition, unhealthy plant-based diets did not aid in reducing the risk.

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“We speculate that the antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains could help in lowering the risk of colorectal cancer by suppressing excessive and chronic inflammation, which in turn can lead to cancer. As men tend to have a higher risk of colorectal cancer than women, we put forward that this could help us in explaining why eating greater amounts of healthy plant-based foods was linked to reduced colorectal cancer risk in men but not women,” said Prof. Jihye Kim, from Kyung Hee University, a study author.

The authors conclude the study by stating, “Improving the quality of plant foods and reducing animal food consumption can help in preventing the risk of colorectal cancer.”