Eating to Reduce Colon Cancer Risk
By Sara Butler
You may be able to reduce your risk of colon cancer by changing up your diet. Makes sense, right? Since everything you eat takes a journey through your colon, then what you eat has a huge impact on its health. Here’s what you need to know about your eating habits and how they impact your risk of developing this type of cancer.
Who Gets Colon Cancer?
Colorectal cancer is third on the list of most common types of cancer today, according to the American Cancer Society. Studies over the last several years have yielded some interesting results. People who eat diets low in animal products appeared to have a lower incidence of colon cancer than those who ate a lot of red meat. And eating fish made your chances of developing this type of cancer even lower.
Foods to Eat
If the health of your colon is important, then you need to focus on what you’re eating in order to keep it healthy. These foods can help:
- Fatty fish – Salmon, mackerel, and sardines help to lower inflammation due to their high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids. Inflammation has been linked to the formation of tumors, so adding this to your diet can’t hurt!
- Bran or oat cereal – These are high in fiber, which helps to move food through the digestive tract. The longer some things sit in there, the higher the likelihood of damage being done that could result in a higher risk of cancer.
- Beans – Any kind of beans are high in folate, a vitamin that helps to repair DNA in the digestive tract. They have fiber to boot!
- Vegetables and fruits – Fruits and veggies are full of natural fiber to keep things moving right along. They’re also rich in various micronutrients, some of which have been linked to lower rates of certain kind of cancers. Get your six to eight servings a day!
Stay Away From These Foods
There are some foods that you need to eliminate or reduce in quantity in order to protect the health of your colon and your overall health, too. Stay away from or limit:
- Processed meat – Meat that has had preservatives such as sodium nitrate added are terrible for your colon and your overall health.
- Refined sugar – Sugar causes insulin levels to spike, and this can impact the levels of certain chemicals in the liver that are associated with colon cancer.
Give your body the best shot at avoiding illness by treating it right and fueling it with the right foods!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Dallas, Tex.