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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – I wonder how many of us have thought about feeding our colon lately, but it does play an important role in our health, and we’re certainly aware of it when it isn’t functioning (aren’t we?). So how many times during this week did we consider how our food choices affect the health, function and appearance of our body including our colon? If you’ve been reading my tips, you’ll recognize today’s tip “Feeding Our Colon” as part of my “Feeding our Body” series. And with colon cancer in the news this month, along with numerous other digestive conditions affecting our health and daily lives, I think feeding our colon merits our attention, regardless of our age (Even if I’m blushing as I write!).
The American Institute for Cancer Research has this to say :
“Research from around the world shows that a diet high in animal fat and protein may be linked to an increased risk of colon cancer”. The researchers are studying whether a diet high in fat and animal protein suppresses healthful bacteria in the colon and promotes the growth of damaging microbes, setting the stage for polyps and ultimately colon cancer to develop. A.I.C.R. Summer 2004
What does this mean? It means that we may be promoting an unhealthy environment in our colon when we eat a diet high in fat and animal protein (so much for those high protein diets which contain mostly animal protein and are high in fat!). It may also point to the role high fiber diets play in preventing colon cancer, that is, when we eat a diet high in fiber such as many vegetarians do, we may eat a lot less fat and of course, less animal protein as well. So here are a few of the foods we can choose to eat more often (Can’t list everything, but here are the most available), to
“Feed Our Colon”
Legumes. Commonly known as beans, this power house food group gives us the side effect most of us try to avoid, gas that is. But, it is the gas which is a byproduct produced by bacteria in our colon of undigested dietary carbohydrates that produces important nutrients for the lining of the colon. (A.I.C.R.) (A healthy colon is a gassy colon according to the latest research!)
Yogurt. Technically a probiotic (life enhancing), yogurt made with active live bacterial cultures has shown in studies to diminish a variety of gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel, and irritable bowel disease as well as colitis. One such strain of good bacteria, Lactobacillus can survive our digestive tract and make it all the way to our colon, enhancing our colon’s existing bacterial flora. There are also probiotics in supplement form, but let’s keep eating our Yogurt a Day!
Whole grains, vegetables and fruits. These foods provide fiber (both soluble and insoluble), which help to speed transit time of waste material, add bulk to waste material and soften waste material (are we blushing yet?). Many of these foods are also known as prebiotic foods such as barley, oatmeal, dark leafy greens, bananas, onions and berries to name a few. These prebiotic foods, which also survive the digestive process, provide nutrients that our colon’s bacteria thrive on! Some of these are also known as resistant starches, so please, let’s eat some carbs! (These foods also have several other health benefits, but today we’re talking colon).
Milk and Calcium Containing Foods. According to the lastest research reported in the Global Perspective on Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity fro, A.I.C.R. and W.C.R.F. 2007, these foods show promising “probable” evidence reducing our risk for colon cancer. Let me add that this means low fat milk and dairy foods. Now, if probable doesn’t sound convincing, then let me say that this suggests that there is enough evidence-based research to support drinking our skim milk!
Water. Water is a nutrient and it is vital for every metabolic and physiological function in our body, so it merits a mention here! It also softens our waste material.The foods mentioned above contain higher amounts of water than you guessed it, steak and other animal foods, while raw fruits and vegetables contain even higher amounts of water than when cooked.
So, the next time we’re ready for a meal, let’s consider how our meal will affect our body, namely today our colon. While most of us know these foods are good for us, I hope we’ll now choose them more often knowing a little more about why to keep our body and colon running smoothly! Scroll down for vital information on colon cancer, prevention, and screening. Let’s protect our health and life!
Follow me every Sunday on Twitter for a new tool taken my book. AND my screensaver program “Focus on the Tools” is now available for PC users. It features rotating flashing tools from my program with beautifully photographed healthy salads in the background. There’s even a calendar that shows the month and date! Reinforce healthy eating habits and stay motivated to change while at your computer. Click here for more info http://www.junefit.com/serviceshp.htm
Here’s to “Feeding Our Colon” !
June M Lay M.S.
www.junefit.com
Best news yet is that accumulating evidence finds that exercise also plays a role in colon cancer prevention. Click here for more info on colon cancer and exercise http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cancersite:rectum
Click here for more info on our colon, colon cancer and screening? Another site with info is http://www.seattlecca.org/patientsandfamilies/adultCare/clinicalProgs/colorectalCancer/ Remember, it’s for our health!
Junefit is included in Google’s top ranked women’s health resources http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Women’s_Health/Resources/
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