Attention women: Eating a diet rich in folate could lower your colon cancer risk

A group of researchers at South Korea’s National Cancer Centre have found that eating a diet rich in folate can lower a woman’s risk of colon cancer by a whopping two-thirds, writes Christine O’Brien of Nutrition & Healing. The same effect wasn’t seen in men.

In the study researchers assessed 596 patients who had colon cancer and 509 healthy individuals.

Folate and folic acid are forms of a water-soluble B vitamin. Folate occurs naturally in food and folic acid is the synthetic form of this vitamin, explains the MayoClinic.

The reason for folate’s cancer-protective power?

Folate is one of the nutrients that’s key in repairing DNA. Researchers think that a lack of folate makes genetic mutations. And that damaged DNA can go cancerous.

So how much folate do you need for this big cancer-preventing boost?

In the study, women getting at least 300mgs a day saw the best benefit, a 64% lower risk of colon cancer. And women consuming more than 270mgs a day slashed their risk in half.

Besides supplements, you can get your daily folate in veggies and fruits like spinach, green beans, peppers and citrus fruits.

Well there you have it. Increase your folate intake and you’ll be sure to reduce your colon cancer risk.