Monday, June 6, 2011

How to Prevent Colon Cancer

The World Cancer Research Fund International routinely updates its recommendations on prevention of colon cancer.  As of last month, it's newest pronouncement is that physical activity & dietary fiber convincingly decrease risk.  Luckily, we have control over both these factors.  Probable factors to reduce colon cancer risk include garlic, milk & calcium.

When it comes to increasing one's risk for colon cancer, convincing risk factors include red meat, processed meat, body fatness & abdominal fatness.  Attained adult height is also included but we don't have much control over that.  Alcohol consumption is a bit trickier due to less available data for women, but it does appear to increase risk in both sexes.

Don't forget that all the data we have right now is epidemiologic, observation & associative in nature.  We don't have any evidence of causation.  With that said, it's difficult to find anything bad in increasing one's physical activity and eating more dietary fiber.  And don't forget that more garlic means lower likelihood of confronting a vampire, right?

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