Cocoa-rich diet 'may ward off bowel cancer'
People who regularly eat chocolate may benefit from a reduced risk of bowel cancer, new research suggests.Scientists at the Science and Technology Institute of Food and Nutrition in Spain found that a daily serving of cocoa was associated with a reduction in the development of pre-cancerous bowel growths in rats that were given cancer-causing chemicals.
Lead researcher Dr Maria Arribas, whose findings are published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, said: "Foods like cocoa, which is rich in polyphenols, seem to play an important role in protecting against disease."
However, Cancer Research UK's Sarah Williams cautioned against eating too much chocolate, which is high in calories and fat.
"Being obese has been shown to increase the risk of bowel cancer, so eating lots of chocolate is unlikely to be a good way to cut the risk," she told the Daily Mail.
Britons who want to reduce their risk of bowel cancer may be better off focussing on the levels of meat in their diet plans.
A number of studies have shown that eating large amounts of red or processed meat - including beef, lamb, bacon and sausage - is associated with an increased risk of the disease.
