8. Mineral – Calcium
There has been a great deal of research into calcium as a preventative for colorectal cancer. It is thought that when calcium binds to bile acids and fatty acids in the digestive tract, it prevents these acids from damaging the colon, thereby stopping the colon from needing to repair itself. When the colon needs to create new cells to repair the damage done by acids, it gives free radicals the chance to invade and attack these cells. Not all the results of the research have been consistent, which means that results have varied greatly from one study to another.
An American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study found that while calcium intake did produce a modest reduction in the risk of getting colorectal cancer, the risk did not decrease the higher the calcium intake. It seemed to level off at an intake of 1200mg of calcium daily. It was also discovered that calcium supplements yielded a better result than calcium intake through diet. So, calcium supplements of 500mg or more daily yielded the most promising reduction of the risk of colorectal cancer.
The National Institutes of Health-American Association of Retired Persons (NIH-AARP) Diet and Health Study analyzed nearly 500,000 people. A reduction of the risk of colorectal cancer of about 20% in men and about 30% of women were determined.
However, there is a warning that increased calcium intake may increase the risk of prostate cancer. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition found that an increased intake of calcium from dairy products was associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer. Calcium from non-dairy products was not associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer. The jackfruit is an excellent source of non-dairy calcium.