Can sambar actually save you from colon cancer?

Health By Chetana Belagere February 15, 2023 Read the article

Dr Palaniappan Manickam, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and epidemiologist in the US put out a post on “sambar’s” supposed role in preventing colon cancer.

[{"selector":"#anim-48d7cb8a-d61b-416f-994c-38c366fe6199","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e67721f-5ceb-42a5-957f-603cd40c9e15","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 50.64955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87799784-6f3b-4d11-b381-290056a948e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ccaf5a6a-f8c7-460e-b066-a2ad7882a3ba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 157.51267%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2848f8e5-7d8e-4670-81a1-2ac959eb521f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.23213710495718%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48b273e1-8f70-4997-ae65-fdf6ef63a002","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.30717%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6bd32616-e947-411c-a8a7-04d7bec1aef3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4192596-e37b-487f-9f29-f24697aa04a4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Health Read the article

He speaks about a preclinical study on mice from Manipal University investigating the effects of sambar on dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer.

[{"selector":"#anim-3a1cc8ec-d602-40f4-aba5-d604a047b35e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd2749e4-0354-42e0-a96a-e56b1210a2eb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.27403%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8083f1c0-403c-4b16-b96a-05895e1e8061","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-637e4cdc-d7ef-4f95-a99f-3a805130a653","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 156.94446%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de3e51b0-ce99-4c22-8ace-f0be01cd2b1a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-24.70238083860668%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

[{"selector":"#anim-607d17ef-3697-409c-88c3-13489c1a5390 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-0.9191173492379311%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4da21800-65ec-4552-a99f-b91dfa369e51","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.9868%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d405ef7-e854-4be6-8d1f-0de58ed8e927","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23a82ccf-73be-4c40-a2d2-69ab4c51d530","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Health Read the article

“Only the sambar group showed a significant reduction in the colonic nitrite when compared to the DMH control group,” the study noted.

[{"selector":"#anim-4ae88822-3eb4-44da-bc5a-b4094628aaaf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-588f2316-4244-44b4-9b45-d6132c6d0517","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 46.52301%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54da4c6e-cd98-40d3-b537-769862f4eeb1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8aa2ae5-2a2b-41c7-8c4a-43b1c5ca2ac8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.57974%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8759d29f-6cfb-4dbc-b568-686f04409d64 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.06730821394983%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

Many Indians, especially South Indians, seemed absolutely delighted. One person said, “Just now made sambar sadam with lots of vegetables!”

[{"selector":"#anim-3cdd24cc-a959-4092-92ab-3026de800a39","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf6c49f0-2926-450c-9554-0d44a8affccb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 46.52301%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9cd59a91-ebda-4a8a-809a-b23cc193b045","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d95710cd-ac92-41df-bf95-38effd5668a6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.57974%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f274de1-7848-4f2c-a297-8f4bd354ddc6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(62.86969856471726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

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

[{"selector":"#anim-76eb6a87-8683-4f35-8cf6-9dd49f1d92fb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87ae16c1-4169-4bdb-8057-3c6757218f91","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 46.52301%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b448eff9-affd-41e7-be31-d160201ea3af","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b93f9d4e-c539-42cb-999b-4929414ff031","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.57974%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea4e50d7-f2a4-4625-b874-cc794ddfd008 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-25.744047505273336%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

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

[{"selector":"#anim-4dbdaff3-2ab0-4fe0-9246-1d75aa741d3a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec690466-acc6-4fc4-ae23-1d753f4a4f88","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 46.52301%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-573f4baf-1d1f-44b2-8c4c-9dd9d02e2685","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be5212fb-0339-484d-9d72-da170e81114e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.57974%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-056d2f31-b34b-4b10-8f59-982c30b203b2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-2.3180939858736713%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

“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.”

[{"selector":"#anim-495fb662-dca1-440c-9db4-f71f7b1c2300","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08df1bff-886d-4a3b-a0eb-b5df98def7fd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.27403%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ce0588f-7f34-46bb-907f-db0a397655ba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6cd41e3a-0d94-44a4-b86f-9d43516eb8b0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 154.67173%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0f8c92f-a603-4bb5-88c3-83bb1febc938 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(24.255952267178113%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

However, we must know that it is not the fault of the study, but the way it is interpreted.

[{"selector":"#anim-87c7d7a3-1a2a-4052-858b-cf1a85dbd391","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4d491bb-a4f6-4492-bcdf-a8f9840d7e0e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 38.26991%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11337fde-edbe-4928-bf11-ab0c24d78816","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95e1ff3d-a383-41a4-8724-ea491b9a2dc1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 213.58020%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f85f0d6c-a2f7-462f-a7f2-2da473620a71 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-10.721982644846396%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

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

[{"selector":"#anim-415f0b25-2904-48ff-ae03-70535ea50f45","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc7161ff-f31e-4692-8e0c-5acbe18c8084","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 43.77197%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8f348b4f-c6de-4ec5-ab5c-cf52dc6c0531","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-951f64b7-7acc-4d7c-8577-6b0a4bfa9ba6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 196.79850%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd84f908-6e19-41f3-8938-84afd049f744 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.328036626744968%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article

Dr Jayadevan said, “Colorectal cancer could be inherited or spontaneous. There may be environment factors too.”

[{"selector":"#anim-6358d9a3-f25a-4ca2-af2b-9d4bf73762aa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21031e79-5c1b-49de-bace-321257131831","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.39646%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1389e80-5fac-4aa3-bb93-e9acc7a998c7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8022a6b-5f94-4d4e-89da-8c817919b6c3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 188.32394%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1010b11-1c7f-4c72-817c-8d2f3130a389 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.90624987200394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-433b12a3-79f3-4ac4-ac15-132925602817","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.93333%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6cc2f07c-fecb-4c2d-a4c5-0bc79d508367","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1609e19-11e4-4766-af4f-4a6a66bee158","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Health Read the article

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

[{"selector":"#anim-d2dbb372-0894-41ba-a6d8-dea7f5bdf424","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1e6ce44-5527-441d-b673-83df594a7fdf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.27403%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab642d99-3d15-435b-88c2-52f5c11e9f76","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b7762c1-3a66-4762-b04e-5b976e22a4b6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 160.35357%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1fa8a71-3e4b-46fb-bd66-bcc329410f12 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(62.49999977245145%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Health Read the article