Colorectal Cancer Treatment: Can Diet and Nutrition Help?

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There was once a belief that a high fiber diet can protect the colon by reducing the time that any harmful carcinogens present in the stool have in contact with the walls of the intestines. There are now conflicting reports on this, but most health professionals still recommend a high-fiber, low-fat diet. A high-fat diet is strongly linked with colon cancer.

A vegetarian diet or a diet that is low in red meat, alcohol, and refined foods and high in vegetables, fruits, soy, fish, whole-grain breads, and cereals, as well a low or non-fat dairy products and lots of vegetable and fruit juices offer excellent dietary protection.

Foods high in antioxidants and sulfur compounds are recommended and these include broccoli, cabbage, garlic, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, citrus fruits, melon, and dark green, red, and yellow vegetables.

Studies show that aged garlic may offer colorectal cancer treatment by slowing the rate of progression of established colon cancer cells.

Tomatoes may lower the risk. Drinking chlorinated water has been associated to high incidence of colon cancer. Coffee is believed to help reduce colon cancer risk.

Other studies show that drinking 2 (8 ounces) glasses of milk a day may reduce the risk of colon cancer by15%.

Beta-carotene, calcium (1,200 milligrams daily), selenium, and vitamins C and E, and the long-term use of multivitamin with folic acid above (400 micrograms daily) have been associated to reduced risk of colon cancer.

Two of the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxnathin, may help protect against colon cancer. Food sources include spinach, turnip greens, collard greens, kale, and mustard greens,

Probiotics, which are present in yogurt and supplements, may help in colorectal cancer treatment by inhibiting cancer growth. Increased risk has been linked to low levels of vitamin D, and excessive iron intake. Quercetin has been shown to have anticancer properties against colon cancer.

Recommended Reading

Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies, Phyllis A. Balch, CNC (2002), NY: Penguin Putnam, Inc.

Here's what one customer of Amazon.com has to say about it...

 "I had this book when I had cancer in 2003; it was wonderful. It was the most extensive and knowledgeable book on herbs for cancer that I have ever seen. It's chock full of information. What I also appreciated very much is that she discusses the various chemotherapies and what herbs to take to complement them. I had never seen anything like that. And when she said that anybody who had Hodgkin's should never take ascorbic acid, that was information never seen. It was a wonderful companion during my illness and I am very grateful for it. I wish that it was updated."

Information on Colorectal Cancer Treatment with Diet and Nutrition Obtained From...

Phyllis A. Balch, CNC (2006). Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fourth Edition. NY: Penguin Putnam, Inc.

This book offers a practical A-to-Z reference to drug-free remedies using vitamins, minerals, and food supplements that everyone must know about. Click link to read book reviews written by customers!!!