AN ANTICANCER LIFESTYLE

A number  of studies suggest that if a person switches to certain lifestyle changes, it could eliminate up to 40 percent of colorectal cancer.

·        Eat less red meat.  During digestion, red and processed meats form carcinogenic chemicals and was 22 percent greater among people who ate five ounces of red and processed meat a day compared with those who ate less than an ounce a day, according to a 2011 meta-analysis combining results of  21 studies.

·        Eat more vegetables, fruits and fiber.  A recent study using data from the U.S Polyp Prevention Trial looked at the impact of diet on 1,900 people with a history of precancerous polyps.  Those who met goals for cutting fat and consumed at least 18 grams of fiber and 3.5 servings of fruit and vegetables per 1,000 calories each day were 35 percent less likely to develop new polyps during the study.

·        Exercise.  Sedentary people are about twice as likely to develop colorectal cancer as likely as highly exercisers.  Aim for at least 30 minutes a day of moderately intense exercise.

·        Maintain a healthy weight.  Being overweight increases the risk of colorectal cancer no matter how active you are.  Excess abdominal fat (indicted by a waist size that exceeds 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men) could be a more important risk factor than over-all body weight.

·        Don’t rely too much on drugs or supplements.  Aspirin and related NSAIDs, calcium supplements, and for women, postmenopausal hormone therapy, might lower risk, evidence shows.  But all pose additional health risks, and there’s not proof of their effectiveness and safety to recommend routine use to prevent colon cancer.

·        Limit alcohol.  People who average two to four drinks a day have a 23 percent higher risk than those averaging less than one drink a day.

·        Smoking.  Researchers have enough evidence to conclude definitively that smoking tobacco contributes to colorectal cancer.  Women appear to be more susceptible to precancerous polyps from smoking than men, according to a study published online in July 2011 in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences.