Friday, March 24, 2023
  • Login
The South First
Advertisement
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Videos
  • Dakshin Dialogues
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Videos
  • Dakshin Dialogues
No Result
View All Result
The South First
No Result
View All Result

Home » Health » Can sambar actually save you from colon cancer? What doctors say

Can sambar actually save you from colon cancer? What doctors say

A recent Instagram post by an Indian-origin gastroentologist on sambar preventing colon cancer has gained a lot of traction.

Chetana BelagerebyChetana Belagere
Published:15/02/2023 12:00 pm
A A
Sambar is a lentil-based dish, cooked with pigeon pea, tamarind, spices and an assortment of vegetables. (Creative Commons)

Sambar is a lentil-based dish, cooked with pigeon pea, tamarind, spices and an assortment of vegetables. (Creative Commons)

Dr Palaniappan Manickam, MD, MPH, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and epidemiologist in the US — popular on Instagram as Dr Pal — recently put out an interesting post on “sambar” and its supposed role in preventing colon cancer.

As you may expect, this brought immense cheer to a majority of sambar-loving Indians!

Here’s what the doc said

Dr Pal, in his Instagram Reel, speaks about a study conducted in India that found that consumption of sambar could prevent the development of dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer.

He captioned the video, like this: Our favorite sambar, which is a tasty staple food hailing from the rich heritage of South India, is now claimed to prevent a type of colon cancer. A study has found that consumption of sambar can prevent the development of dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon cancer.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Palaniappan Manickam (@dr.pal.manickam)

So, which study says this?

The doctor quoted a preclinical study by Indian researchers published in ResearchGate and PubMed, where researchers Vutturu Ganga Prasad, Neetinkumar Reddy, Albi Francis, Pawan G Nayak, Anoop Kishore, Krishnadas Nandakumar, Mallikarjuna C Rao, and Rekha Shenoy from Manipal University used two groups of mice.

The study, when South First checked, found that the researchers had created three groups — normal control, DMH control, and sambar.

Here, the researchers investigated the effects of sambar as a preventive measure for the 1,2-DMH-induced carcinogen that often leads to colon cancer, in these two groups of mice.

While one group was given only water, the other group was given sambar. “Only the sambar group showed a significant reduction in the colonic nitrite when compared to the DMH control group,” the study noted.

Happy Indians!

While the sambar post gained a lot of traction on this doctor’s Instagram page, many Indians, especially South Indians, seemed absolutely delighted.

One follower, Dheepthi Soundararajan, said, “We South Indians have sambar morning afternoon night — 352 days a year! Except for Sundays for biryani and we have all the spices there as well.”

Meanwhile, another person said, “Just now made sambar sadam with lots of vegetables! Saravana told me you will be posting about sambar today.”

Another said, “Sambhar is one of the healthiest, tastiest, and most nutritious dishes which can be eaten both with rice and chapati.”

Not everyone agrees

Renowned gastroenterologist Dr Rajeev Jayadevan from Kerala, however, rubbishes the claim and calls this “absolutely baseless”.

Colorectal cancer presentation (Wikimedia Commons)
Colorectal cancer presentation (Wikimedia Commons)

He told South First that this is a “darling story” of those who like hoaxes. “It basically is from a single lab study where they fed the rats DMH and looked at the microscopic structure of the gut lining. These mice did not get cancer.”

“The study found that there were abnormal cellular abnormalities that are linked to cancer, which is not really cancer. The researchers in that study found that the counts of cellular abnormalities were slightly higher in the mice which were not fed sambar,” he explained.

There are some factors that need to be considered too. For instance, we don’t know the history of the mice, the genetic structure of mice, and so on, he added. However, we must know that it is not the fault of the study, but the way it is interpreted.

Dr Ramesh Makam, Senior Consultant Gastroenetrology in Bengaluru, was also not exactly enthused by the claim.

“We can’t say that only ‘sambar’ can prevent anyone from colon cancer. Of course, having a high-fiber diet can definitely prevent it,” he told South First.

“Sambar has high-fibre vegetables and that may help prevent constipation, which is one of the main reasons that cause colon cancers. But I wouldn’t go top the extent of saying having sambar alone can prevent cancer.”

Also Read: Does tobacco cause cancer in all? HCG study finds out

Meanwhile, explaining what colon cancer is and the risks of it, Dr Jayadevan said, “Colorectal cancer could be inherited or spontaneous. There may be environment factors too. While some of them can be known, there could be unknown factors too.”

“Amongst lifestyle factors, alcohol use, inadequate fibre in the diet, lack of exercise, increase of red meat, and consumption of saturated fat and processed meat can lead to this cancer.”

Don't miss our top stories!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more information.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Recommended For You

Vundavalli Sridevi, Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, and Anam Ramanarayana Reddy.
Andhra Pradesh

YSRCP suspends 4 MLAs who cross-voted for TDP candidate in MLC election

March 24, 2023
The court also asked the party to submit the list of national and state leaders who will be participating in the dharna. (Wikimedia Commons)
News

TSPSC paper leak: Telangana High Court allows BJP to hold ‘Maha Dharna’ protest

March 24, 2023
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that Narendra Modi government is most afraid of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. (Twitter/INCIndia)
Karnataka

Allies, rival parties alike decry Rahul Gandhi disqualification; call for united front grows louder

March 24, 2023
Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan speaking in the Assembly. (Screengrab)
Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Assembly urges Centre to provide  SC status to Dalit Christians, include Boyas in ST list

March 24, 2023
OBBs by the current YSRCP government had always come under criticism from the Opposition — especially the TDP.
Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh off-budget borrowings at ₹1.18 L cr; overall liability ₹4.91 L cr: CAG

March 24, 2023
'Can Bandi Sanjay or any other BJP leader prove that there were states who were paying more than ₹10,000 per acre to rain-affected farmers?' asked Harish. (Harish Rao/Twitter)
News

Harish Rao, KTR slam Bandi Sanjay for picking holes in KCR’s farmer compensation announcement

March 24, 2023

Top Stories

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that Narendra Modi government is most afraid of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. (Twitter/INCIndia)

Allies, rival parties alike decry Rahul Gandhi disqualification; call for united front grows louder

March 24, 2023
Former Lakshadweep MP Mohammad Faizal. (Supplied)

Mohammed Faizal case: Conviction stayed or not, wait for Rahul Gandhi to be MP again may be long

March 24, 2023
Amit Shah Vijayendra

Karnataka: At BS Yediyurappa breakfast meet, Amit Shah puts BY Vijayendra-baiters in BJP on backfoot

March 24, 2023

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Like and Follow

Follow @TheSouthfirst

Latest

Vundavalli Sridevi, Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, and Anam Ramanarayana Reddy.

YSRCP suspends 4 MLAs who cross-voted for TDP candidate in MLC election

March 24, 2023
The court also asked the party to submit the list of national and state leaders who will be participating in the dharna. (Wikimedia Commons)

TSPSC paper leak: Telangana High Court allows BJP to hold ‘Maha Dharna’ protest

March 24, 2023
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that Narendra Modi government is most afraid of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. (Twitter/INCIndia)

Allies, rival parties alike decry Rahul Gandhi disqualification; call for united front grows louder

March 24, 2023
The South First

CATEGORIES

  • News
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Featured
  • Health & Wellness
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Karnataka
  • Kerala
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Telangana

PAGES

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2023 The South First

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Health & Wellness
  • Dakshin Dialogues
  • Videos

© 2023 The South First

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our