Nutrition

Overcoming colon cancer with diet

Foods to fight colon cancer

In this chapter, we will be discussing how we can overcome colon cancer with our diet.

Cancer of the colon or rectum is also called colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is a fast rising type of cancer but often curable if you catch it early enough.

Some risk factors implicated in colon cancer include:

• Polyps-growths inside the colon and rectum that may turn into cancer.

• High fat diet

• Advance age

• Family history or personal history of colorectal cancer

• Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease

Some signs and symptoms include: blood in the stool, thin stools, a change in bowel habits and general abdominal discomfort. However, it may be without symptoms, and thus requires screening.

Treatment option include: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Notwithstanding, prevention they say is better than cure and one of the best ways to prevent colon cancer is through our diet.

Foods to include

• Fibre rich diet such as whole grains, brown rice, broccoli, and black beans.

• Calcium rich diet such as milk, broccoli, and cabbage.

• Folate rich food such as spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, and artichokes.

• Anthocyaninrich food such as blueberries and cherries.

• Lutein rich foods such as tomatoes, spinach, nectarines, and broccoli.

Foods to avoid

• Sodas and caffeine rich drinks

• Red meat and meat products

• Processed foods

Lifestyle modification

Modifying our lifestyle from a predominantly sedentary lifestyle to incorporating exercises like going for walks, jogging, and riding bicycles, as well as cutting down alcohol intake, and cigarette smoking all serve to reduce our risk of colon cancer.

In conclusion, we may not be as informed about colon cancer as certain other cancers, but it nevertheless poses a major risk to our healthy life and peace of mind, which cannot be underestimated. By following the modifications and food choices listed above, we can guarantee many more years of life free from colon cancer.

The writer is aNutrionist and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Holistic Health Consult “Your health your wealth.”

E-mail; info@holistichealthconsult. org

By Bernice Korkor Asare

Nutrition

Dietary management of memory loss

Chocolate

In this new chapter, we will be discussing how we can manage memory loss with our diet.

Some people get more forgetful with age. It may take longer to learn new things, remember familiar faces and words as well as personal belongings.

Memory loss can be mild or serious. Serious memory lapses affect ability to do daily activities like driving, shopping, or handling of money among others.

Below are some pointers of serious memory loss;

●Asking the same questions over and over again

●Getting lost in familiar places

●Being unable to follow directions

●Getting very confused about time, people, and places

●Self-neglect such as eating poorly, not bathing, or being unsafe

See a doctor if you are worried about your memory lapses or those of a loved one. You also can do many things to make your memory last.

Research has shown a great improvement in memory loss with appropriate diet.

Foods to consume

●Foods rich in antioxidants (vitamins C, E, and beta carotene) such as; oranges, pineapples, blue berries and kiwi.

●Complex carbohydrates such as oatmeal, brown rice, and wheat bran.

●Epicatechin rich foods such as; grapes, blueberries and chocolate.

●Iron rich foods such as; beans, fortified cereals, nuts, and soy bean.

●Monounsaturated fatty acid rich foods such as almonds, avocado, and walnuts.

Lifestyle modification

●Having hobbies

●Getting pets

●Spending time with friends, family and loved ones.

●Joining support groups

●Reduce alcohol intake

●Cessation of smoking

In conclusion, our memory largely makes us who we are; imagine not remembering your own name! We can stray farther away from such a fate by applying the diet and lifestyle above, so that we can always remember who we are and who/what we love.

The writer Dr. Bernice Korkor Asare is the CEO of Holistic Health Consult.

“Your diet your health, your health your wealth”

E-mail: info@holistichealthconsult.org