UK research found simple changes can improve your health and wellbeingNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)13:46, 04 Jun 2026Updated 14:12, 04 Jun 2026Drinking one glass of milk a day could significantly reduce the risk of bowel cancer, according to research. A study by Oxford University and Cancer Research UK found that adding one glass of milk a day to your diet could reduce the risk of bowel cancer by 17%.‌Bowel cancer is the fourth most common in the UK and cases have been growing rapidly among younger people. According to Cancer Research UK , 54% of all bowel cancers could be prevented by having a healthier lifestyle. Smoking, lack of exercise, alcohol, eating processed meat, and poor diet are all significant factors in the development of bowel cancer.‌Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, said: "As an oncologist, I advise my patients about how diet and lifestyle can influence health, including the risk of developing cancer. But this research – one of the largest studies into diet and disease so far – has shed new light on how easy, cheap diet changes can help everyone to reduce their cancer risk.‌"For example, as well as drinking an extra glass of milk per day, reducing consumption of alcohol and red and processed meat could also help protect against cancer. The study found that drinking an additional 20g of alcohol a day, equivalent to a large glass of wine, increased bowel cancer risk by 15%. Consuming more than 30g of red and processed meat daily was linked to an 8% increase in bowel cancer risk."The study found that people who drank an extra 244g of milk per day – roughly one large glass – had a 17% lower risk of developing bowel cancer. The reduction applied to whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk.‌Professor Stebbing said: "Researchers found that the protective effect of milk consumption was independent of other dietary factors and lifestyle habits. This suggests that the benefits of milk in reducing bowel cancer risk are not because milk replaces unhealthy food choices or is consumed as part of an overall healthier lifestyle."The researchers said there could be a number of reasons milk reduces the risk of cancer. It is high in calcium, which has been linked to a reduced risk of bowel cancer. Calcium may help protect against cancer by binding to potentially harmful substances in the gut and promoting the death of abnormal cells.Article continues belowProfessor Stebbing told The Conversation: "Many milk products are fortified with vitamin D, which has been shown to have anti-cancer properties and may help regulate cell growth and division. Also, the lactose in milk can promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria that produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. Finally, milk contains conjugated linoleic acid, a fatty acid found in meat and dairy products, which, according to a 2021 laboratory study, could also have anti-cancer properties.He added: "The finding that a relatively modest increase in daily milk consumption could lead to a significant reduction in bowel cancer risk is particularly encouraging. It suggests that small, achievable changes in diet could have meaningful impacts on public health."As we continue to unravel the complex relationships between diet and disease, studies like this one provide valuable insights that can inform both individual health choices and broader public health strategies. The potential for a simple dietary change to have such a significant impact on cancer risk underscores the importance of continued research in this field and highlights the power of nutrition in shaping our health."