How having fibre in your diet helps prevent cancer as well as keeping you regular
New research from Stanford University in the US state of California shows fibre does far more than keep you regular – it could be a powerful weapon in cancer prevention.
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Yet fewer than 10 per cent of Americans meet their daily needs for this nutrient.
The study, published in peer-reviewed journal Nature Metabolism, uncovers how fibre works at the molecular level to help prevent cancer.
As fibre moves through the digestive system , it prompts the gut to produce short-chain fatty acids, which can influence cell behaviour and potentially reduce cancer risk.
These findings strengthen existing evidence that
fibre may protect against multiple cancers , including breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers.
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'We found a direct link between eating fibre and modulation of gene function that has anticancer effects,' said Dr Michael Snyder, professor of genetics and study co-author.
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