A study conducted by the Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology of the National Research Council (CNR-IBBA) in collaboration with researchers from the University of Florence has confirmed that a pesco-vegetarian diet, which is high in fish, vegetables, and plant-based foods, enhances intestinal health and prevents the onset of inflammatory processes that may be associated with the development of colorectal cancer, which is currently the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide (IARC, 2022). The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, builds on years of research at the Institute that has previously shown that the gut microbiota is one of the primary mediators of diet's impact on the risk of developing colorectal cancer. The current study not only confirms the importance of diet in modulating gut microbial communities and the development of colorectal cancer, but it also highlights the combined effect of diet and pharmacological treatment. The effects of a pesco-vegetarian diet were studied in animal models that were genetically predisposed to colorectal cancer. The findings suggest that following this diet considerably lowers the production of intestinal cancers in the colorectal region, which coincides with changes in the intestinal flora. This tendency is exacerbated when the diet is taken with acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), a medication previously known for its anti-inflammatory and preventative capabilities against a variety of chronic conditions. The most intriguing conclusion, however, comes from an examination of the intestinal microbiota, the enormous ecology of bacteria that live in our intestines and play an important role in human health. The study shows that the microorganisms preferred by a pesco-vegetarian diet include bacterial families that are already known to produce beneficial metabolites and maintain a healthy gut environment. Aspirin has also been demonstrated to impact the microbiota by choosing particular bacteria that may be implicated in the observed protective effects, including the Roseburia genus, which generates butyrate, a chemical required for gut mucosal health and inflammation control.