Colon polyps are growths in the lining of the colon, or large intestine. Pedunculated polyps are protuberant and grow on a stalk like a mushroom. Other polyps are flat and are called sessile polyps. Most are benign. Polyps can be hyperplastic, with a very low risk. Others are adenomatous. According to the College of American Pathologists, adenomas arise when there are DNA changes in the colon lining, and some of them can become cancerous.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for colon polyps include drinking and smoking, a high-fat diet, being overweight and getting very little exercise, a family history of polyps or colon cancer, and being older than 50.
Fiber May Help
The Cancer Project describes a study by Jerome DeCosse, M.D., of Cornell Medical Center in which patients with recurrent polyps ate wheat bran, rich in pentose fiber. Within 6 months, they had fewer polyps, and the ones they had were smaller.
There tends to be less colon cancer in countries where people eat lots of unprocessed grains, which are high in fiber. The fiber causes stool to move through the bowel more quickly. In Western countries where people eat a lot of meat and processed foods, carcinogens remain in the colon for a longer time, leading to changes that trigger growth of polyps.
Dietary fiber comes from unprocessed plant foods and includes the parts of the plant your body can't absorb. Instead of being digested, fiber bulks up your stool, making it pass through the intestine more quickly.
According to the Mayo Clinic, men age 50 and younger need 38 grams of fiber a day, 30 grams if age 51 and older. Women age 50 and younger need 25 grams, 21 grams if age 51 and older.
Diet
A high-fiber diet consists of lots of whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. You should also drink lots of fluids.
Some of the best sources of fiber are whole-grain bread, oatmeal, brown rice and wheat bran. Legumes with the most fiber include chickpeas as well as pinto and kidney beans. Broccoli, carrots, corn and cabbage are high in fiber, as are apples, figs, oranges and berries.
Side Effects
If you are in the habit of eating a low-fiber diet, you should add high-fiber foods gradually. A sudden switch can cause discomfort with bloating, cramping pain and gas.
Warning
While having many health benefits, a high-fiber diet alone does not cure cancer or completely eliminate growth of polyps. You should follow your doctor's recommendations for colon cancer screening.
Member Comments