Having cancer can be one of the most stressful and emotional times in a person’s life. Having to undergo and pay for treatment can be overwhelming. Cancer puts your body through a lot between the disease itself and the invasive treatments. This is especially true with colon cancer. Getting to the colon to remove cancer is difficult and uncomfortable. The cancer can also spread elsewhere during the later stages, making it the treatments even more invasive. Preventing colon cancer is something a person will want to do in order to avoid expensive and intrusive treatments, as well as the pain and symptoms that come along with the cancer. One of the best ways to prevent colon cancer is by keeping your colon healthy. Not only will a healthy colon help prevent cancer, but it can also help prevent irritable bowel syndrome well. Below are five easy ways to ensure that your colon is happy and healthy.
1.) Exercise
It is not uncommon for exercise to be at the top of every list of preventative measures for diseases. Exercise does help the body maintain a healthy weight and can provide great circulation of blood and oxygen. Exercise will help increase blood flow and circulation to the colon. During this process, your colon will get more oxygen. This can help ward off colon cancer. You do not have to do any extreme exercises to get these benefits. Walking and stretching for 10-15 minutes is enough time to keep your colon healthy.
2.) Stay Away From Alcohol And Tobacco
Alcohol and tobacco are some of the worst things for a body’s overall health, not to mention if you are trying to keep a healthy colon. Alcohol and tobacco use increases the risk of developing colon cancer, and lowers the health of your body as a whole. When a body is not healthy, it cannot fight off diseases as easily. Stop tobacco use altogether. Men should limit themselves to two drinks per day, and women should keep it at one.
3.) Drink Plenty Of Water
Staying hydrated is one of the easiest ways to keep your body happy. Inadequate hydration can lead to build-up of toxins in the body. The risk for colon related illnesses increases when the toxins accumulate in the body. These illnesses, like irritable bowel syndrome, bloating and constipation can lead to further colon complications down then line. You should aim to drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day to cleanse your body.
4.) Increase Vitamin D
Maintaining a healthy colon is easy with an increased amount of vitamin D, according to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. There are many ways to get vitamin D. You can get it from foods like bread, fatty fish and milk. You can also get it from 15-20 minutes of sun exposure. You can take a vitamin D supplement if food and the sun are not enough.
5.) Get More Fiber
Fiber keeps food and water moving along the digestive tract. This helps intestines stay clean, which reduces the risk of any digestive diseases. Fiber is a great choice for keeping your colon healthy. You can get fiber from foods like: bananas, brown rice, whole-wheat, broccoli, beans, and celery.