A recent study shows that kids who drink school milk are forty percent less prone to suffer bowel cancer in comparison to adults. The consumption by half-pint a day had powerful defensive effects against the condition which claims thousands of lives globally each year.
The pupils, who had milk every day for at least four to six years, were found twenty percent less prone to have a tumour in their later life. The researchers compared nearly six hundred bowel cancer patients aged thirty to forty with same number of healthy participants.
All the participants were asked about health and lifestyle, counting how frequently they drank free school milk. It is believed that long term consumption of milk builds up greater levels of calcium in the body, which could defend the bowel from cancer killing cells prior to formation of tumour.
Under the Nursery Milk scheme, children under five can have a daily third of a pint of free milk in approved daycare facilities. The study carried out in New Zealand emphasized the long-standing benefits of drinking school milk, stated crusaders.
School milk is immensely significant as it makes sure kids have enough supply of nutrients. One glass of milk has equal amount of calcium as a kilogram of spinach, explained Dr Judith Bryans, director of the Dairy Council. However, Cancer Research UK warned some studies had shown a high-dairy diet could actually increase the chance of developing the disease.
Their research team is planning further work which could corroborate that the stipulation of milk at school can considerably diminish the threat of cancer in upcoming generations, stated study leader Prof Brian Cox. According to a spokesman from Cancer Research UK, the best ways to decrease bowel cancer risk are to keep a healthy weight, drink less alcohol and be physically active.