Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the united states. While a colonoscopy is the gold standard for medical prevention, there are a host of other preventative measures one can take when working to prevent this condition from occurring.
1) Make sure you are getting fiber on a daily basis. Constipation and improper elimination through the small intestine and colon is a primary reason why the cells in your colon can transition into cancer cells. People should be having at least 1-2 bowel movements per day to help maintain proper elimination and health of the colorectal cells. A great way to improve fiber intake is by consuming ground seeds. Flax, pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame are all highly beneficial when it comes to colon health. 2 tablespoons of ground seed per day is all you need to begin improving elimination.
2) Probiotics are another very important part of maintaining colon health. Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria that are found within our colon that helps us digest our food as well as maintain proper immune function. If you have a imbalance in the bacteria within your colon, you begin increasing the risk of cells changing into a pre-cancerous state. Great ways to consume probiotic bacteria is by eating fermented foods such as temph, kim-chee and keifer. You can also supplement with a high quality probiotic.
3) Properly handling your stress/emotional response is the last tip I will touch on. The primary emotion held within the colon is grief. Too often people have unresolved situations that have gone on in their life that continue to have an impact on their health. Communication is the first step when resolving emotional imbalance. Think about past events that you may still be stressing about and come up with a plan on how to communicate them to the other parties involved. The simple act of communicating how you feel (rather than holding it in) has a major benefit on the health of the colon along with your other primary organ systems.
Dr. Buttler