Recent research suggests that there is a link between diet and colon cancer, which is second only to lung cancer as the most common cancer related cause of adult death. A high level of fat and too much consumption of red meat is a typical diet eaten by a lot of the western world and this could be a big factor.
Professor Stephen O’Keefe of the University of Pittsburgh explains that the components of diet greatly affect microbes that are found within the gut. This reiterates the connection between colonic disease and people’s diet.
A high fiber and complex carbohydrates food regime encourages the body’s good bacteria and means that many more fatty acids are made. This greatly lessens the risk of cancer as opposed to a fatty diet that has an opposite effect.
A meeting of the Society for General Microbiology discussed the issue extensively. It is in agreement that a healthy balanced diet not only prevents heart disease but can also prevent cancers such as that affecting the colon.
The colon can contain nearly nine hundred different bacteria with over seven thousand various strains. Currently only a few of these have been studied but if the results so far are anything to go by the information will eventually be overwhelming. O’Keefe believes it is the key to understanding colonic health and cancer prevention.
In the gut of the body, toxic substances can be created from waste food not expelled, by microbes. Consuming a lot of meat results in a build up in sulphur, this in turn means that less of the good bacteria are made. It is the latter that use methane and if there are fewer of them, consequently more hydrogen sulphide is made. Other carcinogens will also occur.
A person eating a well balance and healthy diet, rich in complex carbohydrates had increased amounts of micro-orgasms known as firmicutes. Colonic health is maintained by folate and biotin, which are made by short chain fatty acids that are a result of the bacteria removing undigested starch and proteins.
Over the years, there have been many studies of the various cancers including colorectal. Symptoms include fatigue, weight loss and constipation. Unfortunately, other illnesses have similar features and often this leads to misdiagnosis.
It may be several years before the cancer is noticed and often by then it will be at an advanced stage and incurable. Surgery will usually be required to remove tumors and prognosis usually depends on how far it has spread to other body organs.
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