This food improves gut health in colorectal cancer survivors

“Poor diet and an unbalanced gut microbiome can negatively impact colorectal cancer prevention efforts”especially when you have already been treated. So to avoid relapses, it is important to take care of your intestinal flora. According to a study published at the end of 2023 in the journal eBioMedecinea miracle food could improve the health of your digestive tract: white beans.

Beans benefit gut health in colorectal cancer survivors

To reach this conclusion, researchers from the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas (United States) based themselves on a clinical trial carried out on 48 people over the age of 30 who suffered from obesity and showed signs of intestinal lesions – history of colorectal cancer (75%) or symptoms detected during a colonoscopy. For eight weeks, the participants maintained their eating habits and added a cup of white beans every day. The researchers took regular blood and stool samples to see changes in their microbiome.

Volunteers saw positive changes in their gut flora, which were associated with better outcomes in cancer prevention and treatment. “There was an improvement in participants’ gut health, marked by an increase in beneficial bacteria (Faecalibacterium, Eubacterium and Bifidobacterium), which repelled the decreasing harmful bacteria”specifies Carrie Daniel-MacDougall, professor of epidemiology and lead author of the study, in a press release.

Microbiome: white beans stimulate good bacteria

“It is rare to observe a change in the microbiome caused by a dietary intervention alone, and this study highlights the therapeutic role of a prebiotic-rich food […] White beans are rich in fiber, amino acids and other nutrients that can help the beneficial bacteria in your colon thrive, support immune health and regulate inflammation.” However, making it a dietary habit is crucial because, “Once participants stopped eating the beans, the positive effects quickly faded.”