Vegetarian diet linked to lower colon cancer risk

Red meat is off the table in my house. It’s not that we don’t like eating it — we definitely do. It’s just that eating red meat has been linked with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Since this type of cancer runs in my husband’s family, we pass on pot roast and prime rib, and use turkey for tacos and burgers. Now, a new study suggests that we should go entirely meat free, but add more fish to reduce our risk even further. Meatless meals For the study, researchers at Loma Linda University in California analyzed the dietary habits of more than 70,000 people. Those who ate a vegetarian diet had a 22% lower risk of colorectal cancer than those who weren’t vegetarians. Among those who ate a vegetarian diet that included fish, the reduction in risk was even greater — 43%. A vegetarian diet that includes fish and other seafood is called a pescovegetarian diet. Keep in mind that the study didn’t show that a vegetarian diet caused this lower risk, just that diet and risk were associated. The results were published online in JAMA Internal Medicine. How might a vegetarian diet work some magic against colorectal cancer? “These dietary patterns may decrease insulin and insulin-like growth factors, two hormones linked to colorectal cancer, compared to the traditional American diet,” says Dr. Edward Giovannucci, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. There are other ways a vegetar...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Cancer Healthy Eating colon cancer colorectal cancer vegetarian diet Source Type: news