Diet and Colon Cancer

Colon Health

Statement of the theme

risk factors

prevention

Diet

Exercise

Dietary supplementation

No one really wants to talk about the subject of their colons. We all started out life with one, most of ours are working very well as we sit here today. But though speaking about the colon seems to be dirty or disagreeable, it is very important that we all pay attention to the colon. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer death in the United States. It is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and women within North America. And I am sad to say that 90% of all the patients who die because of colon cancer could probably have prevented their deaths, though a combination of healthy diet and simple diagnostic testing.

STATEMENT OF THE THEME: Many people think that they are not at risk for colon cancer. It is true that it is most likely found in those patients over fifty years of age. But the things that we do to our bodies in the decades preceding our fifties can have a great impact on whether we develop colon cancer or not. Of course, genetic predisposition to colon cancer is something that none of us can prevent. It has been proven that a person with a primary family member (meaning a parent, sibling or child with colon cancer or the development of precancerous polyps has two to four times the risk of developing colon cancer. But even knowing this, there are things that we can do to protect ourselves and reduce our risk of dying from colon cancer.

We can definitely work to reduce our risk over a lifetime of developing colon cancer by following a proper diet, engaging in regular physical exercise and even by adding some dietary supplements.

DIET: It is a fact, per the American Cancer Society, that almost 75% of all the cases of colon cancer diagnosed could have prevented by following a better balanced and healthier diet. It has been recommended that all people follow a diet in which less that 20% of our daily caloric intake can be attributed to fat. In addition, it is important that we take in anywhere from five to eight servings of fruits and vegetables per day, as well as about 25 or more grams of fiber. To the typical American, this would mean cutting back on over half the fat we are reported to eat and doubling our intake of fruit and veggies. The benefits are scientific -- we know that these high fiber and low fat foods actually move food along through the bowel more rapidly and keep carcinogens from setting up shop. The benefits of fiber, however, are less clear. A recent study run at Brigham and Women's hospital showed no drop in the rate of colon cancer in women who had been taking in a higher fiber diet for over 16 years. Another national study is currently underway which may prove this to be untrue. Until we know better, it is likely that the best thing to do it to eat lots of fruits, vegetables and fiber, if not only for your colon health but also because we know that these kind of foods have the added benefits of reducing serum cholesterol levels and the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. In this way, you are fighting some the most common killers in the United States in an easy and tasty way.