Adding ‘super veg’ to your diet can ‘slash your risk of deadly bowel cancer’
NO single food can offer all the nutrients and energy you need to keep your body happy and healthy.
But there are a few items – dubbed ‘superfoods’ – that really pack a punch when it comes to health benefits.
You might picture exotic and unpronounceable ingredients like chia seeds and acai.
But there is one vegetable you probably already consume on a regular basis that – according to fresh research – could slash your risk of a deadly cancer.
The study, published in the European Journal Of Medication, pointed out that regular garlic consumption could make you less likely to develop bowel cancer.
Some 42,886 people are diagnosed with the disease – which can be spotted through tummy pain, bowel habit changes and blood in your poo – each year, according to Cancer Research UK.
Though bowel cancer is most common in people aged 80-85, a recent report found that people under 50 had double the risk of developing it now that they did in 1995.
Garlic is an old favourite for protection against common ailments like colds, due to being rich in the healthy compound allicin, which helps to block free radicals and stops the spread of bacteria.
But a team of researchers sought to examine whether regular consumption of the pungent allium could influence the risk of developing bowel cancer.
The study observed 300 patients in two Milan hospitals who had enrolled for a colonoscopy as well as into a bowel cancer screening programme: a third of them had the cancer, another third had intestinal adenoma and the remaining were healthy.
They were given a questionnaire that asked about their lifestyle and dietary habits, including garlic consumption.
The study found that medium to high garlic intake can play a role in preventing bowel cancer.
Th risk reduction was higher in people below the age of 70 and people who were less educated.
The 5 signs of bowel cancer need to know
If you notice any of the signs, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The NHS says the five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
- A change in your normal toilet habits – going more frequently for example
- Pain or a lump in your tummy
- Extreme tiredness
- Losing weight