What should you eat to maintain a healthy colon?
Vegetables and fruits
The red, yellow, orange and green colored fruits and vegetables such as peppers, oranges, strawberries, and carrots are particularly rich in antioxidants, which are known to be anti-carcinogenic. The cabbage-family vegetables (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli) have very high levels of natural cancer fighting chemicals as well. Brussels sprouts and broccoli are especially high in these. People who eat these foods plus generous amounts of unprocessed grains have less colon cancer, according to recent research. However, there is no medical evidence that taking antioxidant supplements such as vitamin C and E and betacarotene will be helpful.
Folic Acid
In 1999 a study was published which analyze a large group of nurses over a 14 year period. Folic acid or folate seemed to be very protective against colon cancer for these females, especially those who received over 400 micrograms a day from food and/or a multivitamin.
Meats and saturated fats
Meat contains saturated fat, as do many prepared products such as ice cream and especially non-animal foods such as pastries, sauces, etc. Always read the food labels to see how much saturated fat a food contains. These fats are broken down by the body’s digestive juices and bile. Some of these byproducts are known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Meat-rich diets may increase the risk of breast cancer but this has not been shown in colon cancer. Nevertheless, a reduced meat and saturated fat diet probably contributes to colon health.
Fiber
Studies in the 1960′s and 1970′s seemed to relate a fiber-rich diet with reduced colon cancer in rural Africans. However, the hope that it could reduce colon cancer risk has been called into question by a large study of nurses who had little or no change in developing colon cancer or polyps even when eating up to 25 grams of fiber a day. Even so, fiber is known to help you eliminate more frequently and easily, so it is common sense to include plenty of fiber in your diet.
Calcium
Calcium is one of the most common minerals in the body. It is necessary for bone strength and for many of the body’s important chemical processes. For example, it is needed in regulating the growth of cells. Animal studies have found that a lack of calcium leads to excessive cell growth in the colon. It is not clear if calcium has a cancer preventive benefit for humans. Still, since it is important to the body in so many other ways, everyone should get enough calcium in their diet. All adults should have 1000 mg per day. After menopause, females have a greater risk of osteoporosis (loss of calcium causing bones to weaken), and they should have 1500 mg of calcium a day.
A quart of milk a day provides adequate calcium. Most people do not drink a quart of milk every day, but there are other sources of calcium. Dairy products (such as cheeses and yogurt), shellfish, seafood and many leafy green vegetables contain calcium. The calcium in leafy vegetables is not as available for use by the body as calcium in milk. Some people on low calorie or special diets may not be able to get enough calcium in their diets. In these cases, the physician can recommend a calcium supplement. Calcium carbonate is the best and least expensive, which calcium citrate is considered highly assimilable.
In addition, The June 2001 Issue of Nutrition Science News reported an animal study which suggested that almonds help protect against colon cancer. The study was completed at the University of California at Davis. The groups fed any form of almond had less indication of colon cancer than the control group, but those fed whole almonds did better than those fed almond oil or almond meal. Other research findings that link high-fat diets to increased cancer risk may be the result of diets low in cancer-fighting fruits and vegetables. Despite their fat content, nuts may be helpful in fighting colon cancer.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
If you need medical attention, consult your health care professional.
