A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that there is a link between dairy consumption and prostate cancer. Researchers found that as dairy consumption rose, so did the risk for prostate cancer.
The Risk Of Consuming Dairy
A new study shows the link between dairy and prostate cancer
In the study 28,737 Seventh-day Adventist men in Canada and the USA were tracked for an average of 7.8 years. Out of that group, 1,254 cases of prostate cancer developed. The males who consumed about 430 grams of dairy per day (about 1 ¾ cups of milk per day) faced a 25% increased risk of prostate cancer compared to men who consumed only 20.2 grams of dairy per day (1/2 cup a week).
Also, males who consumed about 1 ¾ cups of dairy per day faced an even greater increase in risk compared to those who had no dairy intake at all.
Other Studies Linking Dairy To Prostate Cancer
Other studies have also suggested the link between dairy and prostate cancer. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine says: “A 2016 meta-analysis of 11 different studies showed that men consuming the most milk products had a 43% higher risk of dying of prostate cancer, compared with men who generally avoided dairy products.”
Dairy-Free Milk As An Alternative
There are so many wonderful dairy-free alternatives that don’t increase the risk for prostate cancer
It is estimated that 1 in 6 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the age of 85. As the studies show, consuming dairy products that come from a cow factors into that rate. Overall, the greatest increases to prostate cancer risk were observed at relatively low doses of dairy consumption. So if you’re still holding onto a small amount of dairy, like cream in your daily coffee, it would be greatly beneficial to give it up entirely. The good news is that there are so many healthy dairy-free milk, yogurt, coffee creamer, cheese (and more!) alternatives out there that won’t increase your risk for prostate cancer.
