Experts are urging Britons to increase their milk consumption and move away from 'trendy' non-dairy alternatives to reduce the risk of bowel cancer. Research indicates that just one glass of milk per day can lower the likelihood of developing the fourth most common cancer in the UK by 17 percent.
Growing concern over dairy avoidance
Dr Rupa Parmar, a GP at Midland Health, reports treating an increasing number of patients who avoid dairy products, unaware that they may be increasing their cancer risk. Currently, nearly one in ten glasses of milk consumed in Britain is plant-based, compared to just one in a hundred a decade ago. The average person now drinks only two pints of milk per week, down from five in 1974.
'I see it in the clinic all the time,' says Dr Parmar. 'The term dairy intolerance is thrown around very loosely and many people are self-diagnosing. 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.'
Calcium's protective role
Dr Parmar points to evidence that dairy can reduce bowel cancer risk. The theory suggests calcium's protective effect may come from its ability to bind to bile acids and free fatty acids in the colon, lowering their potentially cancer-causing effects. Last year, researchers at the University of Oxford found that a glass of milk a day could slash bowel cancer diagnosis risk. An additional 300mg of calcium daily—about the amount in a large glass of milk—was linked to a 17 percent decrease in bowel cancer risk.
Scientists analyzed dietary data from over 542,000 women over 16 years, linking calcium-rich foods like milk and yoghurt to lower cancer risk. Calcium from both dairy and non-dairy sources had a similar effect, suggesting it is the main protective factor. However, cheese and ice cream did not show the same benefit.
'The key is calcium, so it can come in any form—milk, yoghurt, but also tofu or milk alternatives fortified with calcium,' says Dr Parmar.
Other risk factors
The Oxford study, published in Nature Communications, also reinforced the link between alcohol and higher colon cancer risk. Drinking an extra 20g of alcohol daily—equivalent to a large glass of wine—increased risk by 15 percent. Red and processed meat were also associated with higher bowel cancer risk, with 30g more per day linked to an 8 percent increase.
Dr Parmar emphasized: 'It's important to understand that risk factors are part of a whole. Focusing on a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, is the best way to reduce your cancer risk. Quitting smoking and minimizing alcohol consumption are also key. It's all about moderation and making healthy choices.'
Symptoms and early detection
Experts warn that more people need to recognize early symptoms of bowel cancer. Dr Parmar advises: 'If you're experiencing persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss, or abdominal pain, see your GP as soon as possible. As with any cancer, early detection and treatment are crucial for the highest chances of remission and survival. Over 90% of people survive five years or more when cancer is found at Stage 1.'
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Britain, causing around 46,600 new cases and 17,700 deaths annually. The disease is rising among younger people; since the early 1990s, cases in those aged 25 to 49 have increased by about 50 percent.
