Mar 11, 2020

Dieting for A Healthy Colon

Crisp Living.

Colon health is important and often overlooked. Your colon absorbs and stores waste before it exits the body, ensuring that your digestive system works properly and efficiently. People’s risk of developing colon cancer has become higher within the last few years. This is likely due to unhealthy eating habits and bad nutrition. Making simple diet and lifestyle changes can play a significant part in your colon health.

Eat a lot of Fiber

The recommended amount of fiber for adults is between 25 and 38 grams a day, but most people aren’t getting that much. Eating enough fiber each day contributes greatly to digestive health. Fiber can be found in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Fruits

One fun way to make sure you are eating a good variety of fruit is to choose fruit based on color. Having a wide range of colorful fruits ensures that you get all of the cancer-fighting vitamins and minerals that fruits have to offer.

Fruit can also be a great alternative to unhealthy sweet treats, making them a great option for those trying to keep processed sugars out of their diets.

Vegetables

Vegetables have numerous benefits, and because of this, doctors recommend that veggies make up half of each meal you eat. Veggies are high in fiber, which promotes gut health. They also contain carotenoids and flavonoids, which have been shown to specifically prevent cancer. Incorporate veggies such as asparagus, broccoli, artichokes, and onions in your diet to improve your colon and digestive health.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are unprocessed, which means they have all of their nutrients, and this is what makes them so good for you. Whole grains are an excellent source of fiber, B vitamins, and iron and magnesium. You can find whole grains in whole grain bread, oats, barley, quinoa, and brown rice.

Legumes

Legumes are a great source of protein and fiber, making them a good alternative to meat. Studies have shown that eating red meat increases the risk of colon cancer, so substituting red meat for legumes is a great way to get the nutrients you need and prevent cancer. Some tasty legumes are kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, lima beans, and black beans.

Nuts

Many people do not realize how beneficial nuts can be for overall health. Nuts are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats. They can be a healthy snack, or you can eat them in the form of a nut butter with fruit or on whole grain bread. Some of the best nuts for colon health are walnuts, pistachios, almonds, and pecans.

Eating these nutrient-rich foods will help you be proactive in preventing colon cancer, and it will also help ensure that you and your family are eating foods that will be beneficial for overall health.