What’s not to like about fresh fruits and vegetables? Besides delivering a potent dose of vitamins and plenty of dietary fiber, such foods can be a tasty way to replace processed foods while improving colon health. Consider a new study conducted in Western Australia, which associated the consumption of fresh produce with a lower risk of colon disease.

Published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the report found that people who eat veggies of the brassica, or mustard plant, group – such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts – displayed a reduced tendency to develop proximal colon disease.

Likewise, the general consumption of more fresh fruits and vegetables was linked to a lower risk of distal colon disease, researchers said. While the mechanisms behind this phenomenon are unclear, the study confirms countless prior investigations into the benefits for colon health of eating fresh produce.

People at risk for colon troubles often make changes in their diet, take vitamin supplements containing fiber or avoid processed foods. For optimal colon health, the Mayo Clinic recommends a produce-heavy diet, regular exercise, limited alcohol consumption and the maintenance of a healthy weight.