Although a high-fibre diet has long been known to be good for the gut and has been thought to be protective against bowel cancer. Among the first to quantify the benefit found that for every 10g increase in daily fibre intake, there was a 10% drop in risk of bowel cancer. There was also a 20% reduction in risk for every three servings a day (90g a day) of whole grains.

Most foods only contain a little fibre so getting enough can be difficult. Muesli, for instance, only contains about three grams per 50 gram serving. A high in fibre-rich diet contains foods such as porridge, brown rice and cereal cuts the risk of bowel cancer, according to an analysis of 25 studies. Experts said cereal fibre and whole grains in particular cut the risk but found "no significant evidence" of a reduction for fibre in fruit, vegetables and legumes such as lentils and beans. Wholegrain foods include brown rice, oatmeal and porridge plus certain breads (brown bread) and cereals.

Eating enough fibre can cut the chance of developing bowel cancer by almost a fifth, a new study shows. Bowel cancer kills about 16,000 people in Britain a year, more than breast or prostate cancer. The researcher, from Imperial College London and the Danish Cancer Society, concluded that "a high intake of dietary fibre, particularly from cereal and whole grains, is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer”.