Bowel cancer has a very strong association with diet and lifestyle. Most cases of bowel cancer are therefore preventable by making little tweaks to everyday life.
Bowel cancer
Oncology Dietitian Tara Whyand gives us her most up to date tips on how to do this.
- Limit red meat intake to 500g cooked (750g uncooked) per week. Try to eat fresh cuts, or homemade items made from mince rather than preserved, processed red meat. Make sure it's cooked at moderate heat e.g. gentle grilling or stewing, as this is better than pan-frying or broiling red meat.
- Eat more turmeric spice because it contains an active dietary compound called curcumin. It has been shown to reduce polyps and reduce inflammation in the bowel which can lead to bowel cancer.
- Probiotics are live bacteria which, when ingested live in the intestines, compete against other bacteria for food and space. High dose multi-strain capsules or powders may have a greater effect in helping to reduce inflammation in the bowel and impact positively on the immune system.
- Adequate to high levels of vitamin D in the blood has been shown to minimise the risk of colorectal cancer and promote bowel health. People who live at relatively high altitudes are more susceptible to bowel cancer as are those who live in the sun-deprived areas of the northern hemisphere. As well as sunlight, dietary sources are just as important, for example oily fish such as trout and salmon, beef liver, mushrooms and egg yolks.
- Green Tea, if consumed in sufficient quantities e.g. 3 cups a day, can provide some significant benefits where bowel well-being is concerned. There may be a link between drinking green tea on a regular basis and reduced bowel cancer risk.
- Consuming more calcium in dairy products, green vegetables and almonds also helps
- Eat fish regularly and include at least 1 oily fish per week.
- Have at least 18g of dietary fibre per day by following a plant based diet such as the traditional Mediterranean diet. Fibre keeps the bowels contracting, clearing the waste. Consuming at least your '5-a-day' fruit and vegetables, plus wholegrains will help with this.
- Keep to a healthy weight by balancing energy intake with energy expended. Keeping active also keeps the bowel moving, preventing constipation.
- Limiting alcohol intake will also reduce bowel cancer risk. Women should have no more than 2-3 units a day and it is a good idea to leave 2 days per week without.
ProfBiotics Bowel capsules contain Vitamin D3, Curcumin and Green Tea which are designed for bowel wellbeing and can be taken as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
ProfBiotics Bowel is priced at RRP £29.50 and is available from profbiotics.com or by calling 020 7193 8838.
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