Go nuts to reduce your risk of cancer

A new study has found that eating walnuts can reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer.

A team of researchers from UConn Health and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, both in the United States, used mice and found that by adding walnuts to at least 7 per cent of their total daily calorie intake they developed fewer instances of the cancer.

According to the research, 7 to 10.5 per cent of the total daily calories from walnuts is about the equivalent of you consuming 28 grams of walnuts every day.

“Our results show for the first time that walnut consumption may reduce colon tumour development,” says Daniel W Rosenberg, a principal investigator of the study.

“There is accumulating evidence that eating walnuts may offer a variety of benefits related to health issues like cancer.

“This study shows that walnuts may also act as a probiotic to make the colon health, which in turn offers protection against colon tumours.”

Walnuts are said to contain more polyunsaturated fatty acids than any of the commonly eaten tree nuts, and it also contains significant amounts of vitamin E.

“Other studies have shown walnuts have promise in warding off diseases connected to diet and lifestyle, including heart disease, diabetes and neurological disorders,” according to UConn Communications’ Kim Kreiger.

Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world, with almost 15,000 Australians told they have bowel cancer every year. After lung cancer, it is the second biggest cancer killer in the country.

Are you, or do you know someone, affected by bowel cancer? Does your diet include a serve of nuts?