Walnuts and Colon Cancer: New Study Reveals Powerful Protective Benefits

American researchers have uncovered new evidence suggesting that a common dietary ingredient could play a significant role in protecting against colon cancer- one of the most prevalent cancers in the Western world.

In a study published in the scientific journal Cancer Prevention Research, researchers from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine examined the health effects of walnuts- a food long praised for its rich nutritional profile. The focus was on the link between walnut consumption, anti-inflammatory effects, and biological markers associated with the development of colon cancer cells.

Participants in the study, all middle-aged, were initially asked to avoid certain foods. Later, they were introduced to a diet that included a daily serving of walnuts. After three weeks, thorough tests- including colonoscopies and biological samplin- showed that walnut consumption led to an increase in a compound called urolithin A, which is produced when the body breaks down certain natural components found in walnuts.

Higher levels of urolithin A were strongly associated with reduced inflammation and decreased activity of a protein called vimentin, which is commonly present in colon tumors. Notably, these protective effects were especially pronounced among participants who were overweight.

Professor Daniel Rosenberg, who led the study, emphasized that "adding walnuts to your daily diet is not only delicious and easy, but it may also offer real protection against serious intestinal diseases." According to him, this is a simple nutritional step that can have a meaningful impact on the body's defense mechanisms.