Healthy colon

Colon cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US. This has been due to the reason that people nowadays are having an unhealthy lifestyle, and unhealthy diet.

The disease is hard to detect first, as colon cancer has no symptoms in the beginning. When a person is already in the middle or in the last stage of cancer, that is the only time he or she will experience these classic symptoms: anemia, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and narrow stool.

There are many ways to promote a healthy colon. One of these is the most conventional one—eating right. Healthy diet means eating foods that have high nutritional content. Fruits and vegetables are not just rich in vitamins and minerals, but also fibers. Daily recommended fiber intake should be between 20-35 grams, according to the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Average Americans only takes about 12-18 grams of fibers daily.

Red meat and animal proteins should be taken in moderation as studies reveal that excessive consumption of these may put higher risks to having colon cancer.

" There is a recent study that suggests that eating and drinking dark-colored fruits can fight cancer cells in the colon. "

Anthocyanins, the compounds that give colors to fruits and vegetables, can stop cancer cells from spreading. The researchers noted that the richer the color, the higher its anthocyanin content.

The researchers say that extracts derived from bilberry, chokeberry, and purple corn are the most potent to completely stop the growth of cancer cells in the colon.

Tea leaves also known to give a lot of health benefits to the digestive tract. Green and white tea, the two least processed kind, contain polyphenols, a type of antioxidant which interact with conventional cancer drugs that can make it more potent in stopping the cancer cells and polyps in the colon.

Prebiotics are substances that are good for the microflora inside the colon. These stimulate the growth and activity of good bacteria, creating a balance inside the digestive tract which will result to good digestion and improving overall health.

Prebiotics are also known to promote relief from some inflammatory bowel disorder. Good sources of these are unrefined wheat, unrefined barley and yacon, and raw oats.

Colon cleansing is also a good way to flush out toxins from the body. This requires diet that is rich in fibers and nutritional content. While doing this, junk foods should be avoided as these contain high levels of calories, salt, and preservatives while having no or little nutritional value.