Eating Chicken Might Prevent Colon Cancer In Teens, Study Finds

It appears as if eating chicken as a teen has health benefits other than extra protein. A recent study has discovered that eating chicken as a teen may help reduce the risk of developing colon cancer.

The study tested roughly 20,000 women from the ages of 34 to 51 and found that those who ate more chicken during their teenage years were on the lesser end of developing colorectal adenomas, benign tumors that might lead to colon cancer. According to the study, in the decade after high school, 1,494 women were diagnosed with colorectal adenomas, and 305 of them were in the advance stage with tumors.

"Among different cancers, colorectal cancer is the most influenced by diet," says study researcher Dr. Katharina Nimptsch. Previous research has discovered that a diet laden with red and processed meats might increase risks of colon cancer, with other risks including heavy alcohol consumption, little exercise, and a fatty diet. However, studies were initially looking at adulthood diets, instead of focusing on diets from the participants' past, and the findings of this study were interestingly contradictory to previous assumptions.

"Our findings do not suggest an association between red meat intake during adolescence and colorectal adenomas, but higher poultry intake [was] associated with a lower risk," these researchers said, noting that eating more poultry during adulthood did not alter the risk factor of colon cancer.