Fibre diet reduces risk of bowel cancer

Eating brown bread or wholegrain cereals three times a day cuts the risk of bowel cancer by a fifth, a major study has shown. But surprisingly, researchers found no 'significant evidence' that eating more legumes such as beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts, or consuming a lot of fruit and vegetables, guarded against bowel cancer. The study, published in the British Medical Journal Friday, was conducted by researchers, including experts from Imperial College London and the University of Leeds, northern England. It looked at previous studies that involved almost two million people. The experts found a strong link between diets rich in whole grain cereals and protection against bowel cancer - the third most common in Britain. For every 10g a day increase in fibre intake, there was a 10 per cent drop in risk of bowel cancer. It had been suggested since the 1960s that fibre helped the function of the intestines, protecting people from bowel cancer. But previous research provided no support for the assumption. The latest findings, however, based on an analysis of 25 studies, showed that adding three servings (90g/3oz) of wholegrain food to a daily diet brought a 20 per cent reduction in the risk of bowel cancer. The researchers said: 'A high intake of dietary fibre, in particular cereal fibre and whole grains, was associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.'