Several health problems can be avoided by eating the right foods. Numerous studies have revealed that most cancers are related to lifestyle choices such as unhealthy diet, smoking, drinking, or lack of exercise. By making simple changes to your lifestyle, you will be able to boost your ability to fight cancer. These changes may include eating healthy foods, minimizing alcohol, doing regular exercise, and avoiding cigarettes.

Diet And Colon Cancer: Avoid Processed Meat

In developed countries like the United States, the risk of colon cancer has been progressively increasing and colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer. Studies have directly shown the relationship between diet and colon cancer, Foods like processed meats were found to increase the risk of colon cancer while plant-based foods can help decrease your risk of colon cancer.

The risk for this kind of cancer can significantly increase with high consumption of red and processed meat. According to reports, consumption of just two ounces of red meat daily by women or three ounces daily by men for about ten years increases the risk of cancer in the lower colon and rectum by 30 to 40 percent.

It has also been found that aside from the food you eat, weight gain or obesity has also been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Diet And Colon Cancer: A Plant-Based Approach

According to experts, the best foods for fighting or preventing colon cancer are plant-based foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts. Patients should include plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in their diet in order to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Plus, by consuming a lot of plant-based foods, you avoid several other health problems.

Plant-based foods have plenty of fiber that helps in keeping the digestive system clean and healthy by moving the foods you eat through the digestive tract and removing cancer-causing compounds out from system before they can actually cause harm. Foods like sugar, meat, dairy or “white” foods like white bread, pastries, and white rice do not contain fiber.

Lots of plant-based foods are known to fight cancer. Some of these foods are tomatoes, green tea, beans, grapes, garlic, turmeric, berries (like blueberries, blackberries, strawberries), and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower). These foods are packed with antioxidants that are known to fight cancer. Varied vegetables and fruits (orange, green, and yellow fruits and veggies) should always be included in your diet.

Healthy fats, such as fish and vegetable oils, can also help reduce your risk of colon cancer. But always remember to limit its consumption as you don’t want to eat more calories than required.

Limiting your alcohol intake is one other recommendation to reduce your risk of colon cancer. It must not be more that one drink per day for women and two for men.

Making smart food choices is necessary as we control our diet and the foods we eat that actually affect our risk of developing colon cancer.