Doctors will tell you that there is no single best way to control and eliminate the formation of colon polyps. There are several things you can do to prevent the growth of colon polyps, and they are divided into two general categories: eat a healthy diet and exercise.
Colon
Almost all cases of colorectal cancer start from growths called "polyps." I will not go into a detailed description of what the colon does and how polyps form as this information can be found all over the internet. There are various medical procedures to determine the health of the colon and detect the presence of tumors and polyps that can develop into cancerous tissue. Perhaps the best method is through colonoscopy.
This is a medical procedure in which a long, flexible tube with a CCD or fiber optic camera at the end is passed through the anus, through the rectum, and into the large intestine or colon. The images captured by the CCD camera are displayed on a television screen and at the same time are digitally photographed for medical records.
Colonoscopy is the first thing everyone should undergo for early detection of colon cancer. It is recommended that all people, male and female, undergo a colonoscopy at or around the age of 50 years. Men are more likely to develop colorectal cancer than women, although doctors recommend that both sexes undergo the procedure at about the same age.
If you belong to a family with a history of colon cancer , your first colonoscopy should be performed even before the age of 50, preferably around the age of 40. While the incidence of colon cancer among adults ages 50 and older has declined in recent years, it has become more prevalent among the younger generation under age 40. This is primarily due to the poor eating habits of this generation.
What causes colon cancer?
1. Most cases of colorectal cancer are due to aging and lifestyle factors, with only a small number of cases due to underlying genetic disorders.
2. Some risk factors include diet, obesity, smoking and lack of physical activity.
3. Dietary factors that increase the risk include red and processed meat.
4. Another risk factor is inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
5. There are some inherited genetic disorders that can cause colorectal cancer, including familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer; However, these represent less than 5% of cases. It usually begins as a benign tumor, and is often a precancerous tumor that over time turns into cancer.
It is not known exactly what causes colon cancer specifically. There is no specific element or circumstance that medical experts can pinpoint as the root cause that leads to colorectal cancer.
It is widely accepted that colon cancer is caused by a combination of multiple factors, and it is generally agreed that one of the major problems other than aging is an unhealthy diet. About 35% of cases are due to poor eating habits, followed by 30% tobacco use, the balance being a combination of aging, lack of adequate exercise, and other environmental factors (such as pollution).
Looking at these percentages tells us that 65% of the causes of colon cancer can be prevented, while only 35% are due to factors beyond our control (aging, environmental issues). With a proper physical activity regime, this 65 percent of causes that can be controlled rises to 75-80 percent. But why is there such a high percentage of colon cancer cases?
Poor eating habits are the main cause followed by lack of physical exercise. I did not mention tobacco use as a second factor, because as more people avoid tobacco use, this factor becomes less of a carcinogen. Obviously, non-smokers are already ahead in this regard. Unfortunately, modern humans have too much exposure to bad food in our daily lives, making it difficult to stick to maintaining a healthy diet.
What is a healthy diet?
1. Eating foods that contain a high percentage of fiber is the primary prevention of cancer. It is very important to be aware of a proper diet consisting of fruits, vegetables and other foods such as lean proteins, whole grains, beans, green peas, avocados, figs, apples, brown rice, and cauliflower, to name a few. These foods not only contain high levels of fiber, but also contain a group of antioxidants and other disease-fighting compounds.
2. Avoid processed foods, especially processed meat. Here lies the difficulty facing us. In our busy daily life, we tend to develop the bad habit of eating while running. This means eating foods that are easy to find, prepare and consume, and therefore ready-made foods that we can easily get from the frozen food section of the supermarket. Combined with a healthy diet, regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer. It goes without saying that maintaining a healthy weight is also a big positive in this direction.
What are colon polyps?
These are mushroom-like growths that grow from the inner lining of the colon. Although most polyps are noncancerous, most colorectal cancers start and grow from polyps. So, if polyps are the birthplaces of colon cancers, it stands to reason that controlling them prevents the formation of malignant tumors that lead to cancer. What is the best way to control polyps? By eating the natural fibers found in the vegetables and fruits mentioned in the previous section.
Psyllium husk, flax seeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds are the most common fibers found in vegetables. In this group, probably the most abundant and easily converted into a consumable commercial product is the psyllium seed husk. It is also quite possibly the best of all fibers, as it appears to be the most common fiber available on the commercial market.
Psyllium fiber is protective against heart disease
This article would not be complete if I did not mention another benefit that psyllium fiber provides. As an effective part of the diet, it is also a recommended remedy for mild to moderate cholesterol levels. Thus, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the claim that dietary psyllium as a soluble fiber would reduce the risk of heart disease. Clinical tests have proven that a daily dose of seven grams or more of psyllium seed husk can adequately lower total cholesterol and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
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