12 Easy Ways To Reduce Your Risk Of Colon Cancer (#4 Feels So Good!)

Photo credit: bigstock.com

7. Limit Alcohol Consumption

One of the best ways to prevent colon cancer is to limit or avoid alcohol. Although wine and hard spirits, in moderation, do have some health benefits, excessive alcohol consumption is linked to higher rates of colon cancer, throat cancer, cancer of the esophagus, larynx, liver, and breast cancer. When consumed in excess, alcohol damages the tissues and leads to changes in the DNA at a cellular level, which gradually can result in cancer. Also, alcohol can be converted into large amounts of a chemical called acetaldehyde by the bacteria that live in the colon. Acetaldehyde is a known carcinogen. The journal Gut published a study in 2002 which found that excessive alcohol intake increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Limit your alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day for women, and two drinks per day for men.

8. Eat More Cancer-Fighting Foods

A healthy diet is one of the best ways to prevent colon cancer. Eating a diet high in phytochemicals and antioxidants can offer you tons of health benefits, including cancer prevention. Try some of the following:

Eat 1 cup of red grapes each day
Eat 2 cups of steamed broccoli three times each week
Eat 1 ounce of shelled walnuts each day (about 7 average sized shelled walnuts)
Drink 3 or more cups of green tea each day
Eat ½ cup of fresh pomegranates each day
Eat 1 cup of sliced, organic tomatoes each day
Eat 1 cup of fresh spinach 3 or 4 times each week
Drink 2 or more cups of ginger tea each day
Eat two or three raw cloves of organic garlic each day

9. Eat a Fiber Rich Diet

IN addition to eating more cancer fighting foods, you should eat a diet that is high in fiber. High fiber diets reduce your risk of mouth, throat, prostate, esophageal, and colon cancer. In the journal Nature Communications, a 2015 study was published finding that a diet high in fiber lowered the risk of colorectal cancer. This study joins a growing list of studies finding that a high fiber diet can reduce your risk of cancer. A bacterium that naturally lives in the large intestine breaks down fiber and causes it to produce butyrate, which inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Fiber also adds bulk to your poop. This means it will shorten the amount of time that waste and toxins sit in the colon. This will prevent toxins and waste from taking hold inside your colon. Add more fresh, whole organic fruits and vegetables as well as foods like cabbage, whole grains, beans, oats, and quinoa.

Continue to Page 4