In a world where health concerns are increasingly at the forefront of our minds, particularly for those of us in the over 60s bracket, it's heartening to hear that sometimes the simplest of changes to our daily routine can make a significant impact. According to a groundbreaking study, one such change could be as easy as enjoying a daily glass of milk.


The study, touted as the largest of its kind to investigate diet and bowel cancer, has found that consuming a large glass of milk each day may reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer by nearly a fifth. This is particularly relevant information for our community, as bowel cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, with new diagnoses expected to surge to 3.2 million by 2040.


The research, which was conducted over nearly 17 years and involved more than 540,000 women, suggests that each daily intake of 300 mg of calcium – roughly the amount found in half a pint of milk – was associated with a 17 per cent lower risk of bowel cancer. Interestingly, it's not just dairy milk that has this effect; non-dairy sources of calcium, such as fortified soy milk, also offer a similar protective benefit.


Dr Keren Papier, the study's first author and a senior nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Oxford, emphasised the importance of calcium in these findings. 'Calcium was found to have a similar effect in both dairy and non-dairy sources, suggesting that it was the main factor responsible for cutting risk,' she explained.

The implications of this research are significant, especially considering the concerning rise in bowel cancer among younger individuals. In the UK, the number of adults aged 25 to 49 diagnosed with the disease rose by 22 per cent between the early 1990s and 2018. While the reasons behind this increase remain unclear, it's evident that diet and lifestyle play a crucial role in prevention.

More than half of bowel cancer cases are preventable through dietary and lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy weight, increasing fibre intake, reducing alcohol consumption, staying physically active, and avoiding smoking are all recommended strategies. Diet is particularly important, with one in five cases linked to excessive consumption of red or processed meat.


The study also confirmed that alcohol and red or processed meats elevate the risk of bowel cancer. Each 20 g of alcohol a day, about the amount found in a large glass of wine, was linked to a 15 per cent higher risk, while each 30 g of red and processed meat a day was associated with an 8 per cent increase in the disease.

While the study focused on postmenopausal women, Dr Papier believes the protective effects of calcium are likely to extend to men and younger people. She theorises that calcium may protect against colorectal cancer by binding to bile acids and free fatty acids in the colon, thereby reducing their cancer-causing potential.

Sophia Lowes from Cancer Research UK, which funded the study, highlighted the importance of understanding how to prevent bowel cancer. 'Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, alongside keeping a healthy weight and stopping smoking, is one of the best ways to lower your risk of bowel cancer,' she said. Lowes also noted that dairy products like milk can be part of a diet that reduces the risk of this disease.


As we await further research, including investigations into the effects of specific ingredients like calcium, it's encouraging to know that a simple daily habit such as drinking milk could play a role in keeping us healthier for longer. So, next time you're enjoying your morning cuppa or a bowl of cereal, consider adding that extra splash of milk – it might just be doing more good than you realise.
We'd love to hear from you, our Seniors Discount Club members, about your thoughts on this study. Have you found that incorporating more calcium into your diet has made a difference in your health? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!