Can.cer of the colon or rectum – colorectal can.cer – is the fourth most popular can.cer in the US and the second major reason of passing from canc3r. According to the Canc3r National Institute, approximately 4.7% of men and women will be identified with this type of canc3r at some point in their lives.
What is colorectal can.cer?
Colorectal can.cer is a can.cer that begins either in the colon (the longest part of the large intestine) or the rectum (the last several inches of the colon, closest to the anus). Since both can.cers have a lot in common, a term colorectal can.cer is often applied. The most popular type of colorectal can.cer is adenocarcinoma – a type of can.cer that comes in the cells which produce mucus and other fluids.
Colorectal can.cer affects men and women equally and it happens in over 90% of all cases in people aged 50 and older.
What Can You Do To Prevent Colorectal Can.cer?
1. Be physically active
Physical activity plays an important role in prevention of many can.cers, and colorectal can.cer is definitely one of them. If you make sure you get enough movement, your risk can be reduced by 40-50%, as described by a study published in The Journal of Nutrition. Of all cancers, colon and rectal cancers might have the strongest association with regular exercising.
2. Maintain a healthy weight
If you are overweight, you can decrease your risk of colorectal can.cer by simply losing some extra pounds. According to research, your risk goes down by 15% with every five points of body mass index (BMI) you lose.
3. Stop smoking
Smoking is probably one of the most common risk factors for different types of can.cers. It’s related not only with lung can.cer, but also with can.cers of the colon, stomach and esophagus.
4. Limit your alcohol intake
Colorectal can.cer has been connected to excessive drinking but you should also be aware that excessive drinking is also one of the 5 common habits that damage your liver. If you can’t see yourself becoming a teetotaler, at least strict your alcohol intake. Ideally, you should stop at one drink a day. A single drink amounts to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1½ ounces of hard liquor (spirits).
5. Decrease red meat consumption
Since colon is the final part of the digestive tract, what you eat is very crucial for its health. High intake of red meat has been related to colon can.cer development and it is also one of the top 5 can.cer causing foods. Red meat becomes particularly problematic when it’s exposed to very high temperatures, for example when grilled or broiled, or when charred.
6. Consume lots of fruits and non-starchy vegetables
Diet high in antioxidants and phytochemicals is very soothing for the digestive tract and helps prevent canc.ers that destr0y this body system, including colorectal ca.ncer. Some of the most potent sources of anti-cancerous substances include dark leafy greens, beets, squashes, bell peppers, tomatoes, asparagus, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and green beans.
7. Increase your fiber intake
By consuming lots of fruit and veg, you will solve this recommendation as well. Fiber, the non-digestible plant material, is very crucial for colon health. It works as a gut cleaner and brushes away harmful substances and carcinogens. Secondly, it poses food for colon’s good bacteria, which work in an anti-canc3r way. Befriend foods like beans, seeds, nuts, oatmeal and bran cereal to enjoy the full benefits.
8. Avoid foods preserved with sodium nitrite
Sodium nitrate is commonly used to preserve processed lunchmeats such as bacon, salami and hot dogs. In the stomach, this compound reacts with the body’s acids and transform into nitrosamine, which is counted among carcinogens and has been linked to colon cancer.
9. Eat foods high in calcium
Dietary calcium has been shown to decrease colorectal can.cer. Due to years’ long propaganda, most people first think of milk when you mention calcium. However, cow’s milk might not be the best source of calcium and many prefer a diet low in dairy.
10. Get enough vitamin D
Low levels of vitamin D have been related with 12 common diseases, and colon canc3r is just one of them. If you don’t get enough sun exposure, consider taking a vitamin D supplement, especially during non-summer months.
11. Get tested
Screening is a very crucial part of combating colorectal can.cer. Testing is suggested for everyone over the age of 50. If you have colon can.cer in your family or you are at a higher risk, you might want to consider doing the testing earlier.
