Colon cancer is the third common cancer in the world. It is characterized by noticeable
alterations in bowel habits and they include constipation, diarrhea, changes in stool caliber, rectal bleeding, dull abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, anemia, and systemic symptoms such as fever, anorexia, weight loss, and fatigue.
Potential risk factors for colon cancer are:
- Older age.
- Male gender.
- Nutritional factors:
- Poor fiber diet.
- Saturated fats.
- High calories diets.
- Deficiencies of folic acid, selenium, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin D, Omega-3, and antioxidants.
- Red meats.
- Obesity.
- Genetics and hereditary.
- Inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis.
- Polyps of the colon.
- Smoking.
- Infection with a bacterium called streptococcus bovis.
- Nighttime shift works.
- Dysbiosis (imbalance between good bacteria and bad bacteria).
Nutritional Supports:
Restricted Foods:
- Sugar and sweets. They have negative impacts on the immune system. Also the main nutrient for cancer cells is glucose.
- Animal fats. It is hypothesized that animal fats increase proportion of anaerobic bacteria in the gut flora, leading to conversion of normal bile acids into carcinogens.
- Red meats.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Carbonated beverages.
- Refined foods.
- Process foods.
- Food colorings, flavourings, additives and preservatives.
- MSG (monosodium glutamate)-containing foods.
Recommended Foods:
- Drink plenty of water: at least 2 liters a day.
- Whole grains.
- Foods high in fiber: lentils, beans, avocado, and artichoke.
- Foods high in folic acid: green leafy vegetables.
- Alkaline diet.
- Flaxseeds.
- Foods high in omega-3: fish, flaxseeds, chia, and hemp seeds.
- Fruits and vegetables high in flavonoids: berries, red grapes, grapefruit, pomegranate, sea buckthorn, persimmon, kiwi, beets, basil, garlic, parsley, radish, radicchio, rhubarb and parsnips.
- Garlic.
- Onion.
- Foods high in glutathione: asparagus, avocado, and walnuts.
- Cinnamon.
- Ginger.
- Turmeric.
- Green tea.
Recommended Supplements:
- Folic Acid: 1000 mcg a day. This vitamin has a protective effect against colon cancer.
- Selenium: 200 – 400 mcg a day. This mineral reduces risk of developing colon cancer.
- Melatonin: 6 – 18 mg a day. Melatonin has an anticancer activity against colon cancer especially in those who have night shift works.
- Calcium: 1000 mg a day.
- Vitamin D: 2000 – 5000 IU a day.
- Curcumin: 1000 – 1500 mg a day. It has detoxifying, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities.
- Aloe Vera Juice (containing no aloin): ¼ to ½ cup three times a day.
- Vitamin C: 2 – 3 grams.
- Omega – 3 Fatty Acids: 3 – 5 grams a day.
- French Maritime Pine Bark Extract: 100 – 200 mg a day.
- Grape Seed Extract: 50 -100 mg a day.
- Glutathione: 500 – 1000 mg a day. It is a potent antioxidant that plays a key role in liver detoxification.
- Spirulina: as a tablet: 2000 – 3000 mg a day, or as a powder: 2 – 3 teaspoons a day. Spirulina has anti-cancer, detoxifying, immune-boosting and alkalinizing properties.
- Digestive Enzymes: A full spectrum product.
- Probiotics: a product that provides minimum 5 to 10 billion organisms per serving.
- Multivitamins – Multiminerals: A high potency product.
Miscellaneous Suggestions:
- Liver detoxification.
- Colon cleansing.
