Avoid a nasty surprise, look at your gut and clean it up

Written by Daniel Weber

At least 50% of the Western population develops a colorectal tumor by the age of 70, and about 1 in 10 of these individuals, progress to malignancy. As a result, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States and first when smoking-related cancers are excluded (1).

It is estimated that more than half of all new cancers and cancer deaths worldwide are potentially preventable by altering lifestyle. Of course excessive alcohol, smoking, and obesity are the most common causes but certain cancers are also related to infectious agents, such as hepatitis B (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papilloma virus (HPV), and helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). They could be prevented through known interventions such as vaccines, antibiotics, improved sanitation, and education. Some cancers (colorectal and cervix) can be avoided by detection and removal of pre-cancerous lesions through regular screening examinations by a health care professional.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable. There are several things you can do to avoid this type of cancer:

• Avoid high levels of animal fats, eating more fish, chicken and vegetables (2).
• Try to eat 40% of your diet as vegetables and no, fries and ketchup are not included. Particularly, stop eating preserved meats; bacon, sausages and ham are at the top of the list of things to avoid. Also don’t burn your steak.
• Cut back on simple carbohydrates, high simple sugar like sucrose and high fructose corn syrup as well as refined white flour. Rough and tough carbohydrates or low GI are the best (3). The roughage from the box many foods come in is better than the refines foods within.
• Keeping your blood sugar down is a key to avoiding colorectal cancers (4).
• Lastly, many experts suggest vegetables high in certain compounds are helpful, try eating more cruciferous vegetables and more sulphur containing vegetables like garlic and onions (5). Loosening weight and being fit will benefit you in a number of ways, including lower tumor rates (6).

While much has been written about the genetics of cancer, genes are not destiny; at most it’s only 15% of all colorectal cancers are attributable to genes (1). Its what is turned on or off that counts, its what you do with your genes not what your genes do to you.

Some herbs are also found useful. Natural anti-inflammatory compounds abound in the herbal world and are found in green tea, the spices turmeric and rosemary, feverfew and others (7).

References:
1) Cell, Vol. 87, 159–170, October 18, 1996
2) American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 109, No. 2: 132-144
3) International Journal of Cancer. Volume 32 Issue 1, Pages 1 – 5
4) JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1999 91(13):1147-115
5) Cancer Causes and Control. Volume 2, Number 6 / November, 1991
6) Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 82, No. 11, 915-926, June 6, 1990
7) J. Nutr. 131:3034S-3036S, November 2001