Grab a spoon: Eating at least two servings of yogurt a week may help protect you from cancer in a particular part of the colon.

According to a new study in the journal Gut Microbes, people who ate two or more servings of yogurt per week tended to have lower rates of proximal colon cancer positive for Bifidobacterium, a type of bacteria found in yogurt. Proximal colon cancer occurs on the right side of the colon and can have worse survival outcomes than cancers in the distal colon on the left side, the researchers said in a news release.

The finding comes as colorectal cancer rates in young people are rising at an alarming rate, according to a report from the American Cancer Society. Yogurt appears to change the gut microbiome, having a protective effect against cancer, the study said. The finding builds on previous research linking regular yogurt consumption with overall gastrointestinal health and lower risk of health conditions such as osteoporosis and diabetes.

“This paper adds to the growing evidence that illustrates the connection between diet, the gut microbiome, and risk of colorectal cancer,” co-author Andrew T. Chan, MD, MPH, chief of the Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, said in the release. “It provides an additional avenue for us to investigate the specific role of these factors in the risk of colorectal cancer among young people.”

The researchers analyzed health data collected over at least three decades for more than 100,000 female registered nurses and 51,000 male health care professionals. The study participants were asked many questions about their health, including the daily average intake of plain and flavored yogurts and other dairy products, according to the news release. The study had limits. Participants self-reported the information and were not from the general population but worked in a specific industry, health care.

It also did not break down whether flavored or plain yogurts were more effective in providing health benefits, though dietary experts generally say that plain yogurt that is low in fat with no added sugar is the healthiest option. The study did not find eating yogurt leads to a general reduction in overall colorectal cancer risk. More studies are needed on that subject, the researchers said.