Craig Melvin shares a look at new push for cancer screenings
04:38
Colon cancer will be diagnosed in approximately 150,000 Americans in 2024. It’s the fourth most diagnosed cancer in the United States and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
While colon cancer has historically been thought of as a cancer diagnosed later in life, research shows that younger individuals are being diagnosed at an alarming rate: It’s now the top cause of cancer death in men under 50 and second after breast cancer for women in the same age group. By contrast, the number of diagnoses in people over 60 has declined in recent years.
Diet may play a significant role in developing early onset colon cancer, studies have found. Here are some foods to avoid to reduce your colon cancer risk, what foods to eat instead, and other ways to keep your gut healthy for years to come.
What foods are bad for colon cancer?
Limiting certain foods can be the first critical step toward reducing this risk. Red meat, especially processed meat
Numerous studies have linked consumption of red and red, processed meat to colon cancer, and a new study from Cleveland Clinic adds to them.
It found that metabolites (substances the body produces when it breaks down food) from these types of meat, as well as changes to the microbiome after eating them, may increase risk of colon cancer under 60. Younger patients who had a high consumption of red and red processed meats had higher levels of harmful metabolites in the gut that are often seen in older patients. Previous studies have also linked changes in the microbiome due to a Western-style diet (high in red and red, processed meat) to an increased risk of colon cancer. This may be due in part to damage to the intestinal barrier and growth in the intestinal lining that may occur with excess consumption. Sugary, sweetened beverages The Cleveland Clinic study also identified sugary sweetened beverage consumption as a risk factor for early onset colon cancer, and other studies confirm […]
4 foods that increase your risk of early onset colon cancer, according to a dietitian
