Why Eating Yogurt Daily Could Reduce Lung Cancer Risk

Scientists in the United States (US) said eating a cup of yogurt daily may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer. According to the findings of a new study published in ‘JAMA Oncology,’ eating a daily serving of yogurt lowered the risk of lung cancer by 20 per cent, compared to those who didn’t yogurt every day. Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant lung tumour characterised by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth can spread beyond the lung by the process of metastasis into nearby tissue or other parts of the body. Eating a high fibre diet also lowered the risk of the disease by 15 per cent.

In addition, the study showed that people who ate a serving of yogurt a day – along with a high fiber diet – were able to lower their risk of lung cancer by more than 30 per cent. Previous studies have shown some probiotics, live bacteria found in yogurt, have anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties.

The researchers believe the benefits come from prebiotics found in a high fiber diet and probiotics found in yogurt. Prebiotics are a kind of fibre that is indigestible by the human body, and are food for probiotics, which are live bacteria and yeasts. Both prebiotics and probiotics promote digestive health, gastrointestinal health and a healthy immune system. Some probiotic strains have been found to prevent lung cancer growths as well as anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory properties. Further research will however be needed to confirm this hypothesis, the team said. The researchers examined 10 cohort studies from the US, Europe, and Asia involving more than 1.44 million people. Similarly, they analysed the participants’ intakes of dietary fiber and yogurt, and then tracked how many of those patients developed lung cancer.