We’ve seen health trends come and go—one minute it’s acai bowls, the next it’s apple cider vinegar. Now, ICU pharmacist Jared Stockwell, PharmD, from The Pharmacist Brand is stirring the pot with a recent Instagram Reel highlighting research that suggests yoghurt might help lower colorectal cancer risk. But is this the real deal, or just another case of “people who eat yogurt also happen to be healthier”?

“This isn’t just a random diet hack,” Dr. Stockwell explained.

Ugai, S., Liu, L., Kosumi, K., Kawamura, H., Hamada, T., Mima, K., Arima, K., Okadome, K., Yao, Q., Matsuda, K., Zhong, Y., Mizuno, H., Chan, A. T., Garrett, W. S., Song, M., Giannakis, M., Giovannucci, E. L., Zhang, X., Ogino, S., & Ugai, T. (2025). Long-term yoghurt intake and colorectal cancer incidence subclassified by Bifidobacterium abundance in the tumour. Gut Microbes, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2025.2452237

The idea? Probiotics in yoghurt help maintain gut microbiome balance, and a healthier gut could mean lower inflammation and disease risk.

That said, not all physicians are convinced. “These are observational studies,” Dr. Stockwell pointed out. “It’s not proof that yoghurt prevents cancer—it just shows an association.”

So, should you start telling patients to stock up on FAGE? Yoghurt isn’t replacing screening or preventive strategies anytime soon but as a simple, gut-friendly habit. No harm in that. Worst case, they get a little extra protein and calcium. Best case? They’re doing their microbiome (and maybe their colon) a favour.

Now, the real question: Greek, Icelandic, or whatever’s on sale?