NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Turns out mom was right--at least when it comes to eating vegetables.

According to recent study findings, eating a variety of vegetables may lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer. A diverse diet overall also appeared to lower cancer risk, researchers report.

``The present findings add...support to the dietary guidelines recommending a more varied diet,'' according to Dr. Esteve Fernandez of the Institut Universitari de Salut Publica de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues.

Colon cancer appears to be one of the most diet-related cancers, the authors note in the July issue of Preventive Medicine.

To investigate this association, the research team reviewed dietary data from a 4-year study in Italy that included more than 1,200 people with colon and rectal cancer. Patients' food intakes were compared with the diets of more than 4,000 people without cancer.

The researchers also looked at diversity within specific food groups including dairy, bread and cereal, meat, vegetable and fruit.

Overall, a diverse diet appeared to lower the risk of developing colon cancer by 35% in men and by 15% in women regardless of exercise, body mass index, family history of colorectal cancer, or alcohol consumption.

More specifically, consuming a diet that included different types of vegetables was associated with a 34% lower risk of colon cancers and a 29% lower risk of rectal cancer for both men and women.

``This study suggests that total diversity is moderately related to a decreased risk of colorectal cancer risk,'' Fernandez and colleagues conclude.

However, future studies should investigate the effect of eating patterns and intakes of individual foods on colorectal cancer risk, the authors suggest.

SOURCE: Preventive Medicine 2000;31:11-14.

(From Yahoo)