A new study suggests that eating fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some colorectal cancers.

Researchers from Australia examined the eating habits of over 900 people with colorectal cancer and over 1000 people without cancer and found high correlation of lower risk of upper and lower colon cancer in people who had regular eating habits which included fruits and veggies.

 

Eating green cruciferous vegatables such as kale, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower appeared to reduce risk in the upper colon, while total fruit and vegetable intake (and total vegetable intake alone) reduced the risk of cancer in the lower colon.

Eating more apples and dark, yellow vegetables was linked with a significantly reduced risk of lower colon cancer. 

So it appears that "an apple a day..." may just keep the colonoscopy away.

The same can not be said for fruit juice, however, as there was no apparent risk reduction in cancer in people who consumed high levels of it.

It has been known that fruits and veggies have been good for colorectal cancer reduction, but not why and where in the bowel specifically.  This study seems to point more specifically to where and which foods.

As is the case, when seemingly small breakthroughs in research occur, further large scale trials are needed, which is exactly what this study supports.

For now, keep eating fruits and veggies...it's money in the health bank!