| Tips For Preventing |
| Written by Maggie Hirko | |
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It doesn’t have many early signs or symptoms so by the time it is diagnosed the cancer is well established. The medical treatments primarily include surgeries and very potent drugs by way of chemotherapy and radiation. Prevention and some alternative ideas for the early stages of the disease are available. This is what we will explore in this article. Diet and Colon CancerIt seems our diet once again plays an important role in both prevention and help after the cancer has been discovered. For a long while researchers thought fat in the diet promoted colon cancerous conditions and discouraged healing.However they have lately changed what was once just fat, to meat consumption. Especially meat cooked to the well-done stage or to the point of having carcinogenic materials. These carcinogens are thought to be the culprit that causes cancers-especially the colon cancers. Beer is definitely on the avoid list as it contains nitrosamines, a cancer causing chemical. Beer drinking has been found to increase the risks of precancerous changes in the colon. All alcohol carries some risk for these precancerous changes, but beer carries more of a risk than the other alcohol beverages. Researchers think that taking Folic Acid supplements will cut down on the risks that alcohol drinking presents. So if you drink alcoholic beverages you should take Folic Acid supplements. On the other hand, cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli, are great at preventing the disease and good for healing the colon. These specific vegetables contain something called indole-3-carbanole, calcium D-glucarate and sulforaphane. All these ingredients are good for the colon. The fiber in these veggies also helps, as fiber is high on the list of good prevention and good healing qualities. Tomatoes are another vegetable high on this list-containing lycopene which is similar to beta-carotene. We get some lycopene from all, or most, vegetables, but tomatoes have more of this substance than any other source. Preventive and Healing SupplementsThere are many supplements thought to help prevent, or heal, the colon and rectal cancers. Some of these consist of the following vitamins and/or mineral supplements. As we’ve mentioned, Folic Acid is a major one, especially for anyone taking the drug Sulfasalazine.This drug depletes the Folic Acid occurring naturally in the body, so a Folic Acid supplement is greatly beneficial. Folic Acid supplements have been proven very beneficial in many cases, for both prevention and healing connected with colon and rectal cancers. Selenium and Melatonin have both been found to have a great effect on the immune systems of colon cancer patients. Cancer usually has a dire effect on people’s immune systems, the patients become so susceptible to all manner of diseases plus the terrible fatigue that occurs when our immune systems become so low. Both Selenium and Melatonin support and strengthen the immune systems. Calcium and Vitamin E have both been found to reduce the risk of cancer in the colon and also to reduce the risks of precancerous polyps. Vitamin C, especially for women, has a high prevention rating. A combination of the Vitamins C, A, and E, seemed to significantly raise the prevention and the healing qualities of those vitamins. In two different studies, patients with last stage colon cancer, that were given vitamin C, lived 246 days, while those patients in the same stage of the colon cancer, lived only 43 days. Fish oil with the Omega 3 fatty acids and Coenzyme Q10 are two more that are found to be beneficial. There are several herbs that also seem to help prevent colon cancer, or support and strengthen the body after diagnosis. The main herbs are garlic, onion, and both green and black tea. None of these supplements or herbs should cause any side effects, and their benefits may vary somewhat from body to body. However, the chance of preventing colon cancer or strengthening and supporting your body after diagnosis is well worth the cost and effort of studying the benefits and choosing those that fit your particular need. The guidance of a naturopathic professional would be of great benefit in choosing the right ones. SummaryWatching your diet and excluding some or all of the items that are known to cause you to be at risk may help prevent you from getting the disease. You may also want to increase your intake of some of the foods and supplements that may keep your colon healthy. |
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