Spinach didn't only give Popeye strength; it protected him from a type of cancer as well

A new study from the Texas A&M University Health Science Center suggests eating spinach could prevent colon cancer. In the United States, colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Previous studies have shown that eating green vegetables and fiber reduces the risk of colon cancer by as much as half.

Now this new study, published in the journal of Gut Microbes, explores the relationship between spinach, gut health, genes and colon cancer outcomes. The researchers used a model of a hereditary disease called familial adenomatous polyposis, an inherited disorder that causes young people to develop multiple noncancerous growths in their colon. Most people with this disease must have their colon surgically removed to prevent hundreds of tumors from growing in their colon as they age.

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The results of this study indicate that spinach might aid in cancer prevention in these patients by delaying the need for colon removal and prolonged drug treatment.

And when it comes to how soon people should start adding spinach into their diet to help prevent colon cancer, experts suggest that it doesn’t hurt to start now.

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