Colon Cancer - How to Reduce the Risk

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the US. According to the American Cancer Society's most recent estimates, there were over 108,000 cases of colon cancer and almost 41,000 cases of rectal cancer in 2009, causing almost 50,000 deaths.

Overall, the lifetime risk for developing colorectal cancer is about 5.3% or 1 in 19. Men are slightly more likely to have it than women.

According to a study from the December 2009 issue of International Journal of Cancer, if you want to reduce your risk of colon cancer you need to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and drink more tea and red wine. The authors followed a group of 120,852 men and women who were 55-69 years old at the beginning of the study. Every participant filled out detailed dietary questionnaires, indicating how much of different types of foods and beverages they consumed. The reason for the study was to see if there was a link between diet and cancer and also whether certain types of food could reduce cancer risk.

This study lasted about 13 years, during which time,1,444 men and 1,041 women developed colon or rectal cancer.

After analyzing the diet of people with and without cancer, the researchers found that higher flavonoids and catechins intake was associated with a reduced incidence of rectal and colon cancer.

Flavonoids, also called bioflavonoids, include many different substances that are sometimes collectively referred to as Vitamin P. They are found in large amounts in plants, such as fruits and vegetables. They are also known by another name - phyto-nutrients. Literally hundreds of these have been identified and many more are still being discovered.

Catechins are types of bioflavonoids that have a slightly different chemical structure.

All bioflavonoids have anti-oxidant activity, which means that they have the ability to neutralize dangerous free radicals that are generated by the body as a result of normal metabolic activity. They also have general health-enhancing and anti-cancer activity.

All fruits and vegetables have a variety of bioflavonoids. Tea, grapes, red wine, dark chocolate are also very rich in catechins and other bioflavonoids. Red wine has a lot of resveratrol, a bioflavonoid that has been linked to reduced cancer risk, plus many other important substances.

So the lesson is to include fresh fruits, vegetables, berries and other plant-based foods in your diet. It is not only good for preventing cancer, but also for reducing the risk of other diseases, including heart disease.

Michael Teplitsky, MD has been practicing alternative and holistic medicine for over 20 years. He has treated thousands of patients using nutrition and nutritional supplements. His book Nutrition and Your Health explains complex and confusing nutritional concepts in an easy to understand layman language. Please visit the http://www.CommonSenseHealthGuide.com to get the book, a Free Report 7 Health Myths That Can Hurt You, health news, and other valuable information.