Best Foods to Prevent Colorectal Polyp Recurrence

Have you had a polyp removed from your colon or rectum? If so, you are probably thrilled that it wasn't cancer and secondly you will do anything to prevent another one (or two) from coming back. If you are overweight, it is definitely worth your while to get into a healthy weight range sooner rather than later. Maintaining a healthy weight will lower your risk for cancer recurrence. Also, studies have indicated that physical activity levels can influence your risk for cancer -- ideally aim to exercise 30 minutes most days of the week to lower your risk.

But exercise and weight loss aside, preventing a polyp recurrence may be easier than you think. The key lies in the food on your plate.

Starting with breakfast

Oatmeal -- one of the best foods you can eat to start your day for optimal nutrition and better bowel functioning (choose regular oats over instant - regular oats can be cooked in 1-2 minutes too). It's even better if you top your oats with frozen (or fresh) blackberries and a healthy handful of sliced almonds, walnuts, or pecans. Add a small amount of lowfat milk or soy milk and you've added a healthy dose of calcium and excellent source of genistein, respectively -- both of which have been associated with decreased risk of colorectal polyps.

Berries are abundant in flavonoids, a group of bioactive polyphenols that are found in numerous plant based foods. In a recent article_temp about dietary flavonoids and colorectal adenoma recurrence in the Polyp Prevention Trial, it was concluded that a flavonoid-rich diet may decrease the risk of advanced polyp recurrence. You can read more about this study in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention 2008;17(6), June 2008.

Fabulous flavonoids

Flavonoids are found in olives, olive oil, tea, dark chocolate, red wine, nuts, spices, herbs, seeds, beans, soy, avocados, fruits, vegetables, and the list continues. Almost every plant-based foodstuff contains trace amounts of flavonoids, with some containing more than others. In fact, dietary flavonoids account for a substantial share of the American diet with an estimated intake of 189 mg per day per person. In order to get a healthy dose of flavonoids, eat 5-10 servings of fruit and vegetables each day and eat a diet that consists primarily of plant-based foods.

The New American Plate

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) developed a cookbook entitled, "The New American Plate." It provides numerous recipes and nutrition tips for cancer prevention and encourages Americans to stack fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on two thirds of their plate and reserve only one third of their plate for lean meats or fish. It highlights creative and delicious ways to compose a healthy plate and provides plenty of pictures of the recipes. It is definitely worth reading -- and is a great resource for anyone who has a passion for cooking and cancer prevention.

For more information and recipes go to www.aicr.org or you can find the cookbook at most local bookstores.