Although the exact cause of colon cancer is unclear, certain factors can affect your risk for developing it. Changing your eating habits can decrease your risk by as much as 26 percent, according to the Susan Cohan Kasdas Colon Cancer Foundation.
Foods to Consume
Eat more fruits and vegetables, garlic, fish, milk and foods containing fiber, folate, selenium and vitamin D, the American Cancer Society says. Consume the recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D. Getting the recommended nutrients from whole foods is preferred, because supplements don't always show the same beneficial effects as whole foods when it comes to colon cancer.
Foods to Avoid
Convincing evidence exists for avoiding or limiting alcohol, red meat and processed meat, and evidence suggests that limiting foods containing iron, cheese and foods containing animal fat and sugar may also help, according to the World Cancer Research Fund. Replacing foods made with refined flour with those made with whole grains may also decrease your risk for colon cancer because this increases your dietary fiber.
Other Risk Factors
Diet is not the only contributing factor to colon cancer risk. Being older than 50, African American, overweight or inactive also increases your colon cancer risk, as does having a family history of colon cancer. Smoking, having an inflammatory intestinal condition, diabetes and a history of colon polyps are other risk factors, the Mayo Clinic says.
Other Preventive Measures
Exercise, stop smoking and get screened for colon cancer to help prevent colon cancer. If you don't have a high risk for colon cancer, start getting colon cancer screenings at age 50. Otherwise begin at age 45, or five years before the youngest age when a family member was diagnosed with this type of cancer. Screening can also find and deal with polyps before they become cancerous, according to the American Cancer Society.
References
- World Cancer Research Fund; Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective; 2007
- American Cancer Society; ACS Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention; Oct. 31, 2008
- The Susan Cohan Kasdas Colon Cancer Foundation; Diet Can Promote or Prevent Colon Cancer; Dr. Joel Fuhrman M.D.
- Mayo Clinic: Colon Cancer; Aug. 15, 2009
