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Home > Colorectal Cancer |
 Colorectal Cancer Do's and Don'ts
by Dave Foreman
Cancer is the number 2 killer of Americans. Colorectal Cancer alone is expected to take the lives of nearly 53,000 Americans. Colorectal Cancer ranks 4th worldwide in the number of deaths from cancer. Nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population is at risk of developing colorectal cancer. Early detection is key in improving survival rates; ninety percent of patients who receive treatment before the cancer has spread are alive after 5 years, as opposed to only 10 percent who survive if it is widespread. Common risk factors for Colorectal Cancer are as follows:
Colorectal Cancer can cause many different symptoms. These include, but are not limited to:
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consult your health care provider for a proper examination and screening. When considering cancer not just Colorectal Cancer you need to address my Four Pillars of Great Health with the utmost care. Supplements, Diet, Exercise and Spirituality are critical here more than ever. he following is a brief list of the dietary changes that should be made;
Increased activity (exercise) has been associated with reducing risk and aiding the recovery of most major health challenges. Not only will it support a healthy immune system, it will help reduce other risk factors for cancer, such as obesity and stress. I recommend 30 minutes of brisk walking 5 to 7 days per week. This means you don't have to join a health club or buy expensive equipment to be healthy, just a great pair of walking shoes. I won't go into too much detail on spirituality since we have articles archived on my Four Pillars of Great Health (http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/ content/en/dave_foreman/four_pillars.jsp ) Suffice it to say that this plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of Colorectal Cancer. The following dietary supplement recommendations are based on my opinion, and do not constitute the entire list of supplements used for CC. As I recommend in my seminars, do your homework and find a program that is right for you. Long-term immune system support is the best way to start when dealing with cancer (any form). Supporting the immune system over extended periods can be tricky if you don't know what you are doing. Some supplements listed below (antioxidants) are great for long-term support, but they are usually not the only supplements needed to address immune weaknesses. For added long-term support, medicinal mushrooms, such as Maitake, Reishi, and Shiitake etc. are good choices. Medicinal mushroom products, such as Host Defense, Maitake D-Fraction, and Advanced Immune Support are also excellent. I use the beta glucan from baker's yeast (WGP® 3-6) as my long-term immune support supplement. Beta glucan (found in medicinal mushrooms in lower concentrations) is always part of my dietary supplement recommendations for those with immune system weakness. Other big hitters are green tea and turmeric. These herbs have a long history of use in natural medicine. They provide high levels of antioxidants, which have been shown to be beneficial to those concerned with cancer. Studies indicate an association between drinking green tea (7 to 8 cups/day) and a reduced risk of several types of cancer, including colon cancer.Green tea seems to exert its cancer-fighting benefits in several ways: decreasing inflammation (inflammation is now linked to many types of cancer), decreasing new tumor blood vessel development, and causing direct tumor cell death. Since most of us don't want to drink 7-plus cups of tea each day, supplements like green tea extract can be mixed in water or consumed in concentrated capsules. For example, New Chapter's Green & White tea can give you the dose you need without all the hassle. Turmeric, like green tea, provides multiple cancerfighting benefits, such as preventing cell division, decreasing growth of new tumor blood vessels, triggering apoptosis (cell death), and decreasing inflammation. Turmeric is one of the many ingredients found in Zyflamend®, one of the supplements I regularly recommend for people with pain, inflammation, and certain diseases that include inflammation as a risk factor (heart disease and cancer). Moving past these two powerful herbs, Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help improve immune response and decrease inflammation. These two benefits alone earn it a top rank on my list for those with CC. Studies indicate Omega-3's from fish oil play an important role in reducing the spread and growth of certain types of CC. But choosing an Omega-3 product can be tricky. I prefer products with third-party certification, showing no contaminants such as heavy metals or pesticides. Products like Nordic Naturals® and Coromega® are my favorites. Personally, I use Coromega® because it is pre-emulsified (which reduces burping and digestive problems), and because it is conveniently packaged in individual doses to assure freshness and stability. Another big player for those with CC worries is IP-6 (also called inositol hexaphosphate). Found in nature in oats and other grains, IP-6 has been shown to have a positive impact on CC in animals and is also part of my personal CC regimen. It is believed that combining IP-6 with the vitamin Inositol allows formation of IP-3, the truly bioactive form of this compound. Instead of creating your own formulation, I recommend looking for Cell Forte® IP-6 with Inositol. Mentioned above is the importance of fiber in your diet for prevention and treatment of CC. Since most people get only 15-20 grams of fiber per day (35 grams is recommended), it's important to add a fiber supplement to your diet. My recommendation is a blend of fibers, in which flax fiber is one of the main components. Products like Fiber Smart and Organic Daily Fiber can provide you with the extra fiber needed for great bowel health. There are many other combination fiber products on the market. Consult with a store associate for the blend that's right for you.
Last but not least, certain vitamins and minerals are more CC specific. Calcium, Vitamin D, Selenium, CoQ10, Folic Acid, and Vitamin E rise to the top of the list. People with CC are reported to have low blood levels of these nutrients. Selenium, Co-Q10, and Vitamin E play important roles as antioxidants and as providers of immune system support in the fight against CC. Calcium supplements have been shown to help reduce the risk of colon cancer or pre-cancerous conditions that may occur in the colon. Vitamin D, often linked with calcium for bone health, adds another feather to its cap in the prevention of CC. Early research demonstrates Vitamin D, gained either from exposure to sunlight or from proper supplementation, may help reduce the risk of CC. And finally, folic acid has been linked to significant reduction in the occurrence of CC. Folic acid can help reduce the damage done to DNA, as well as help those with conditions that are risk factors (ulcerative colitis and alcoholism) for getting CC. |
