Colon cancer is a malignant tumor afflicting any of the five parts of the colon, which are the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and the rectum, all parts of the body that help digest food and therefore through which the food bolus passes. Altering the diet is one of the ways of preventing colon cancer, and several recent research initiatives have been dedicated to determining which foods are more likely to cause or prevent colon cancer. Brown rice, peanuts, salmon, ginger, white tea, and spinach are some of the foods included in a healthy diet that may prevent the development of the disease.
Colon cancer usually develops when the cells present in the colon are subject to carcinogens or chemicals, which deteriorate the cell DNA. This damage can cause mutations, leading the cells to reproduce themselves with no control with the risk of spreading to other organs, which can be fatal. In addition to genetics and environmental factors, food habits are one of the most important factors in developing the disease, as a healthy diet has been found to lead to disease prevention.
The consumption of fiber, present in foods like brown rice, can help stop cancer cell growth, due to its short chain fatty acid, which means that fiber is a good food to include in a daily diet to prevent colon cancer. Peanuts are a source of fiber as well, containing more than six grams of it per serving. Other foods to include in a cancer preventive diet is salmon, since it has high amounts of vitamin D, which is also found in natural sunlight.
Two-gram ginger root supplement or 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger can help reduce colon inflammation, which can be a consequence of a tumor. Antioxidants can also kill cancer cells, and white tea has high amounts of it, being therefore a helpful food to include in a diet. Vegetables, either cooked or raw, are also a healthy option, and spinach are rich aliments with beta-carotene that can help prevent the development of cancerous cells.
On the other hand, foods like meat, refined grains, desserts and fat are ones that should be eaten in moderation in order to prevent colon cancer, as demonstrated in previous research projects.
