New research has shown that women with higher intakes of calcium appear to have a lower risk of cancer overall, and both men and women with high calcium intakes have lower risks of colorectal cancer and other cancers of the Gastro system (this is from the February 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine).

The Institute of Medicine currently recommends 1,200 milligrams of calcium for adults age 50 and older, and the 2005 dietary guidelines for Americans recommend 3 cups per day of low-fat or fat-free dairy products.  In the study, the decrease in risk for women was with intake of up to 1,300 mgs per day, after which no further risk reduction was observed.  In both men and women, dairy food and calcium intakes were inversely associated with cancers of the GI and one-fifth of men who consumed the most calcium through food and supplements (about 1,530 mg per day) had a 16 percent lower risk of these types of cancer than the one-fifth who consumed the least (526 mg per day). For women, those in the top one-fifth of calcium consumption (1,881 mg per day) had a 23 percent lower risk than those in the bottom one-fifth (494 mg per day) with a most pronounced decrease for colorectal cancer. So what is it about dairy that is so protective against cancer?

Dairy is relatively high in anti-carcinogenic nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D and conjugated linoleic acid. Calcium has been shown to reduce abnormal growth and induce normal turnover among cells in the GI tract and breast and it binds to bile and fatty acids, which may reduce damage to the mucous membrane in the large intestine.  So the bottom line is: even if you’re dieting, be sure to include that lowfat dairy to protect yourself against disease!

Ok, you may say, there are plenty of treatments available today for cancer, but the fact of the matter is, whether or not we are actually winning the war on cancer (announced by Nixon decades ago!), remains to be seen.  Its true that there are many new therapies out there today and yet there is an astounding number of new cases of cancer diagnosed each and every day and may still die from the disease.

So what do we do?  I say, it is essential to remember than we are vulnerable, and exposed to cancer-causing toxins each and every day.  But we can protect ourselves against cancer by doing a couple of simple and important things:

1. Get screened and use preventatives: We are blessed with access to plenty of cancer screening tests.  Use them.

2. Quit smoking already: We all know that inhaling toxins known to cause cellular mutation is just no good and its no good for those around you either.

3. Get regular!  If you’re not moving your bowels regularly, all of the stuff that’s supposed to come out is staying in, and even getting reabsorbed.  If you’re having trouble, add some fiber and water to your diet for a gentle intestinal brushing action that will get things moving in no time.
4. Clean up your diet: A cancer preventative diet should include ample organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy protein sources.  Stay away from preservatives and artificial stuff in your food.  Its no good!
5. Wear sunscreen.  Slather it on every day and you’ll do your skin cells a whole lot of good (though too much can cause Vitamin D deficiency, but that’s another post!)