In a report published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, Harvard researchers studied 88,000 women patients which included examining their family history. Those who had a family history of colon cancer cut their risk of developing colon cancer by more than 50% by taking 400 mcg of folate a day. This drop brought them down to normal risk levels. Women who had no family history of colon cancer saw their risk drop an extra 19%.
Spinach and other leafy greens, lentils, garbanzo beans and citrus fruits and juices are all good sources of dietary folate. Folic aid is the synthetic form of the vitamin that is used in supplements and in fortified foods. So…add more folate to your diet and/or add a folic acid supplement.