This Refrigerator Staple Might Lower a Woman's Risk of Colorectal Cancer, New Study Says

Mar. 15, 2025

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Calcium may lower a woman’s risk of developingcolorectal cancer,a new study says.

“Dairy products (including evidence for total dairy, milk and cheese, as well as dietary calcium) and calcium supplements probably decrease the risk ofcolorectal cancer,” wrote the Oxford University and Cancer Research UK in the study.

“It highlights the potential protective role of dairy, largely due to calcium, in the development ofbowel cancer,” said lead researcher Dr. Keren Papier, according to theBBC.

Stock image of a woman pouring a glass of milk.Getty

Researchers said they came to their conclusion after following the diet and health patterns of more than 542,000 women over 16 years.

They warned, however, that mitigating your cancer risk isn’t as simple as just inhaling a pint of rocky road, as researchers found that, “of the dairy-related foods and nutrients examined in the present study, all were inversely associated with risk of colorectal cancer, except for cheese and ice-cream.”

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Stock image of a woman drinking a glass of milk.Getty

The study also found an 8% higher risk of colorectal cancer with “higher red and processed meat consumption" and noted “a larger association forprocessed meatthan for red meat.”

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And while the study did focus on “dairy milk,” Dr. Lisa Wilde, from the charity Bowel Cancer UK, told the BBC that there are ways to increase your calcium intake even if you avoid animal products.

“If you don’t drink dairy milk there are other ways you can get calcium,” she said. “For example, from broccoli or tofu, and still reduce your bowel cancer risk.”

source: people.com