2026-04-28 10:28:09
Drinking more milk and ditching dairy alternatives may slash the risk of bowel cancer.
New research suggests just one glass a day could reduce the chances of developing the disease by 17 per cent.
Rupa Parmar, a General Practitioner (GP) at Midland Health, warned she is seeing a growing number of patients cutting out dairy without medical reason.
She said: “I see it in the clinic all the time. The term dairy intolerance is thrown around very loosely and many people are self diagnosing themselves with it. When we actually do the tests they often do not have the condition.
“Being dairy free has become quite a trend because people see it as fattening, but often they are doing more harm than good by avoiding it.”
Scientists believe calcium is the key ingredient behind the protective effect because it can bind to harmful substances in the gut, reducing their cancer-causing potential.
A major study by the University of Oxford found that consuming around 300mg of calcium a day – roughly the amount in a large glass of milk – was linked to a 17 per cent drop in bowel cancer risk.
The research tracked more than 542,000 women over 16 years and found calcium-rich foods like milk and yoghurt offered the strongest benefit.
However, not all dairy had the same effect as cheese and ice cream showed no clear link to reduced risk.
Rupa added: “The key is calcium, so that it can come in any form, so milk, yoghurt but also tofu or milk alternatives that are fortified with calcium.”
Experts found that alcohol and processed meat were both linked to higher cancer risk.
She said: “It’s important to understand that risk factors are a part of a whole, and focusing on a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, is the best way to reduce your risk of any cancer.
“Quitting smoking, if you do, and minimising how much alcohol you consume are also two big ways to prevent bowel cancer. It’s all about moderation and making healthy choices.”
Doctors urged people to watch for warning signs including blood in stools, weight loss and persistent stomach pain, stressing early diagnosis can dramatically boost survival.
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