The Relationship Between Colon Cancer and Diet

Research in recent years has strongly suggested that there is a clear link between your diet and your chances of developing colon cancer. One prominent researcher believes that over two thirds of cases of colon cancer can be prevented with simple changes in diet.

The usual suspects

As with research into other diseases, it has been shown that processed foods containing high amounts of sugar, saturated and trans fats, and chemical additives can raise your risk for colon cancer. Aside from their direct contributions, they can also cause weight gain, which is another colon cancer risk factor. Other foods to avoid include:

• Red meat. Unfortunately for meat lovers, there is a large amount of evidence that red meat and saturated animal fat increase your risk of colon cancer. The leanness of the meat seems not to change this effect. Even worse, well-done meat that has been cooked for a while or blackened, has heterocyclic amines, which have been shown to cause cancer.
• Alcohol consumption may interfere with the absorption and processing of certain vitamins and minerals that protect against colon cancer.

A preventative diet

Luckily, there are a lot of foods, vitamins, and minerals that help prevent colon cancer. A basically healthy diet is your best bet, in which you eat fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, healthy oils, low fat dairy, and fish. However, there are specific nutrients to keep in mind:

• Calcium and vitamin D have been shown to bind to fatty acids and bile in the digestive tract, which prevents them from exerting a negative influence.
• Folate is a critical component in cell building and repair. Thus, diets high in folate help you to build healthy cells, and repair damaged ones, preventing either from developing into cancerous cells. Many vegetables are high in folate, especially leafy greens. Also, vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower have phytochemicals, which can prevent damage to colon cells by neutralizing carcinogens.
• Fiber is vital to digestive health in general and has been shown to help prevent colon cancer, especially when 25 or 30 grams a day are eaten.
• The antioxidant selenium has been shown to cause a 25% decline in the rate of colon cancers when taken over a period of several years. The recommended dose is 200 ug per day, without exceeding 400 ug a day.
• Aspirin and other anti-inflammatories, ease inflammation that may cause cancer.

Treating colon cancer with nutrition

If you have developed colon cancer, a healthy diet is very critical in helping your body fight the illness and counter the negative effects of cancer treatments. Specific needs may vary by individual, so it is important to work with a health professional to develop a targeted nutrition plan. Overall, a healthy diet will help you to:

• Feel stronger and have more energy. It will also help your mood, making it easier to stay focused and think positively.
• Maintain a healthy weight and help your body absorb the nutrients you need.
• React better to the side effects of treatment.
• Prevent and fight infection.
• Recover faster and heal more rapidly.