How to Reduce the Risk of Colon and Rectal Cancer
Many of the steps one can take to reduce the risk of colon and rectal cancer have to do with weight. Studies have concluded that people who are overweight are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than people who maintain a healthy diet and exercise program. Obviously, it should go without saying, that just because you are at a healthy weight doesn’t mean you are out of danger. Even those who are underweight can still develop colorectal cancer. Why is weight such a big determinant, however? Although not all the evidence is in just yet, there does seem to be a connection between the excess weight and how it affects hormone levels.
It’s not just weight that plays a part in developing colon and rectal cancer, of course; you have to be prudent about what you eat as well as how much. You’ve heard this advice before in reference to cancer, true, but it still holds. Cut back on the amount of red meat you consume. That doesn’t mean completely doing away with red meat and it doesn’t mean becoming a vegetarian. Studies have shown that those who eat fewer than one serving a day of red meat have lowered their risk of colorectal cancer. And it’s not just about the meat itself, either. Once cooked, this meat produces chemical reactions that may actually increase the number of cancerous cells inside your body.
Along with cutting back on food and watching what you eat, exercise is also a path toward reducing the risk of colorectal cancer. In addition to the plentitude of other benefits you’ll get by exercising, it also helps with the digestive system. By speeding up the process by which you move waste through your intestines and out of your body, you can significantly decrease the risks associated with the carcinogenic food you eat.
Cutting back on your alcohol consumption may seem an unlikely method of reducing the risk of colon and rectal cancer, but it’s a proven fact. Those same studies have found that people who cut back on alcohol as well as red meat lower their risk of colon cancer. The scientific reason is that alcohol serves to decrease the natural levels of the B vitamin known as folate. Folate is thought to be a major player in the protection against cancerous cell growth.
Besides cutting back on alcohol, it’s also a good idea to boost your levels of folate. You can do this naturally by eating foods high in folate such as asparagus, beans, peas and spinach. Or, you can also get more folate into your system by taking it in supplemental form, such as with a multivitamin.
And finally, take advantage of colorectal screenings. If you go to the doctor and get examined early enough in the process, you can even have polyps removed before they become cancerous. Early screening is probably the best thing anyone can do to reduce their risk of developing colon or rectal cancer.
