Eating Nuts May Prevent Colon Cancer Recurrence

(FOX 11) - A recent study shows that eating nuts is associated with a better chance at survival in colon cancer patients.

Researchers followed more than 800 patients in a clinical trial for about six and a half years after they had been treated for colon cancer with surgery and chemotherapy.

They found that those who consumed at least two one-ounce servings of nuts a week were significantly less likely to have their cancer recur, and also to have better long-term survival.

The association was only seen when the patients ate tree nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews and pecans. There was no statistically significant improvement for those who ate peanuts.

The authors of the study say their findings are similar to other studies that show how healthy behaviors are likely to improve colon cancer outcome.

The findings appear in the "Journal of Clinical Oncology."