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Pesco-Vegetarian Diet Reduces Colorectal Cancer Risk, Study Finds

Pescovegetarian Food

Pescovegetarians analyzed by researchers exhibited a decreased risk of colorectal cancers, according to a new study in the United States which analyzed a nationwide sample of over 77,000 people.

The study, which was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, looked at the connection between eating habits and cancer prevalence in 77,659 Seventh-Day Adventists, as the religion entails the encouragement of a healthy lifestyle which refrains from smoking and the consumption of alcohol.

Assistant professor in medicine and public health Dr. Michael Orlich with the Loma Linda University in California was quoted by the Huffington Post as having said that the researchers were “surprised to find that pescovegetarians had a significantly lower risk of colorectal cancers than people on other vegetarian diets”.

We were surprised to find that pescovegetarians had a significantly lower risk of colorectal cancers than people on other vegetarian diets

Orlich, the study’s lead author, went on to indicate diet to be “a potentially important approach to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.”

The study’s analysis determined that vegetarians in general, in comparison to regular meat eaters, were 22 percent less likely to see colorectal malignancies, as there were only 380 cases of colon cancer and 110 cases of rectal cancer after 7.3 years.

Researchers behind the study defined pesco vegetarians as those who consumed meat less than once a month and ate fish at least once a month.

In the case of pesco-vegetarians, researchers saw a 43 percent reduction in risk.

For laco-ovo vegetarians who consume eggs and dairy while limiting fish and meat to less than once a month, the risk reduction was at 18 percent.

Vegans saw a 16 reduction in risk.

As the study did not randomly select people to follow specific diets, its findings are inconclusive.

The chief of the gastrointestinal oncology service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, Dr. Leonard Saltz, who wasn’t involved in the study, was quoted by the Huffington Post as having said:

The comforting takeaway is that a person doesn’t need to be vegan and cut out all eggs, dairy, and fish to get some benefit in terms of reducing the risk of cancer […] To the degree you can adjust your diet so it is primarily fruits and vegetables and seafood, it’s healthier […] We’re not saying you’re committing suicide if you have a cheeseburger, but it should be a treat, not a regular occurrence.

A WebMD report noted that prior evidence has found a connection between the consumption of red and processed meats with a higher risk of colorectal cancer and that the consumption of fiber-rich foods had been linked to a lower risk.

The study was published on March 9 in the online edition of JAMA Internal Medicine.

In other recent health coverage here on Immortal News, a dog named Frankie can smell thyroid cancer in its early stages with an astounding 88.2 percent rate of accuracy.

What are your thoughts on Orlich’s findings regarding pescovegetarianism and a reduced risk of colorectal cancer?

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