Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers today. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 106,100 new cases of colon cancer in the United States in 2009. The odds of recovering from it are very good when detected early. Regular screenings are recommended for the elderly and high-risk groups. A family history of cancer, a poor diet and less-than-ideal lifestyle may place you in the high-risk group.
According to Mary Ahrens, M.S., a genetic counselor at Masonic Cancer Clinic, 5 to10 percent of cancers are inherited. Alcoholism and diabetes increase the colon cancer risk significantly. According to the Journal of Clinical Oncology (Vol. 21, Issue 3: 433-440), some reasons for the increased risk could be the fact that people with diabetes were more likely to have other problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease and high insulin levels.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle is a major factor in maintaining good digestive health. Circulatory, digestive and lymphatic systems are tubes structures that must be kept unclogged and flowing freely to rid the body of waste. In other words, a sedentary lifestyle will increase your risk of colon cancer. A healthy diet and exercise can change the odds to your favor and will help deliver oxygen and nutrients to every cell, along with good hydration.
A healthy diet includes whole grains, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and lean high-quality protein. Organic produce is always the best choice because of the absence of pesticides and other treatment chemicals, but often it is more expensive and not available in every store. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables provide plenty of fiber, which is essential to sweep, absorb and remove the waste from the colon.
Processed Food
Increased consumption of processed foods has a straight correlation to colon cancer incidents and overall colon health. Acidity of processed foods irritates the colon, causing it to create more mucus to neutralize the acid and protect the colon wall. Mucus layers stuck to the colon wall will promote further problems with absorption and detoxification. The mucus layer is also an ideal growing ground for pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Furthermore, stagnant waste can cause toxins to seep through the colon wall and absorb into the bloodstream. Processed foods have poor nutritional value and fiber content.
Obesity
According to The American Cancer Society (ACS), obesity is clearly linked with an increased risk of developing colon cancer. Guidelines for individual choices include a recommendation to maintain a healthy weight throughout life. Numerous weight management programs available can make the transition to healthier diet easier. A healthy diet plan starts before grocery shopping by making a list of acceptable foods and then sticking to the list when shopping. See Cancer.org for a great starting list (see Resources).
Regular exercise routines help to maintain a healthy weight by increasing muscle mass, which burns more calories than fat tissue even while resting. A personal wellness coach may be the answer for reversing obesity if healthy diet goals are very hard to reach.
