Leading health agencies recommend people eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains for their health.

Studies have shown consuming plant-based foods may reduce the risk of colon or rectal cancer and have other health benefits.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating healthy has several benefits. It helps you live longer and lowers your chances of developing serious health problems. These health problems include heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

According to recent research, individuals who followed a diet that prioritized environmental sustainability had a 25 percent lower risk of mortality throughout a follow-up period exceeding three decades.

Diet Plan May Reduce Cancer Deaths

Several trendy eating plans promote consuming plant-based foods. This new research references the Planetary Health Diet as beneficial to both the body and the planet.

The EAT-Lancet Commission developed the Planetary Health Diet in 2019. This plan recommends filling your plate with more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. The plan also emphasizes eating smaller portions of meat, fish, eggs, refined cereals and tubers in your diet.

“We proposed a new diet score that incorporates the best current scientific evidence of food effects on both health and the environment,” Linh Bui, MD, said in an American Society for Nutrition news release. “The results confirmed our hypothesis that a higher Planetary Health Diet score was associated with a lower risk of mortality.”

Dr. Bui is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Based on this diet, researchers created their own Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI). Researchers used the index to analyze outcomes in two large cohort studies in the U.S. featuring more than 100,000 participants.

People with higher index scores had lower risks of death from cancer or cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disease and respiratory diseases.

More research is needed to understand how people with different health conditions, religious restrictions and limited access to food are affected.

In addition to lowering mortality risks, consumption of the recommended foods also may reduce impacts to the environment.

“A sustainable dietary pattern should not only be healthy but also consistent within planetary boundaries for greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental parameters,” Dr. Bui said.

Screening Key to Colon Health

Everyone is at risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), regardless of age. You can protect your colorectal health with a healthy diet plan, exercise, avoiding alcohol and not smoking.

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Undergoing screening may help avoid numerous instances of CRC.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends anyone at average risk start screening for colorectal cancer at 45. If there is a record of the disease in your family or you have had precancerous polyps, consider getting screened sooner. If you have digestive complaints, talk to your doctor regardless of your age. It is important you have troublesome symptoms evaluated.

Although there are several colon cancer screening options, colonoscopy is the preferred method. During a colonoscopy, a gastroenterologist examines the entire length of the colon for polyps or abnormalities. A doctor can find and remove precancerous polyps during the same procedure.

If you’re 45 or have symptoms, talk to your doctor and schedule a colonoscopy to protect your colon health.

Gut microbiota is the largest microbiome in the body, with at least 1,000 types of bacteria and 100 trillion microbes. Gut bacteria maintain intestinal stability and can influence susceptibility to disease. No one’s microbiota is the same as another person’s. The composition can change over time, especially in the early stages of certain diseases.

A recent study found that the microbiome of colon tumors varies depending on whether the patient was diagnosed with early-onset (younger than 50) or late-onset disease.

Study finds difference in colon tumor microbiomes.

According to new research from Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, the microbiome of patients with colon cancer can differ greatly.

The research team found the type and amount of viruses, fungi and bacteria in the colon tumors of patients differed notably depending on whether the patients were diagnosed with early-onset colon cancer compared to late-onset colon cancer.

Increase in early-onset colon cancer

Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, with approximately two million new cases per year worldwide. Colon cancer rates have been decreasing in adults older than 55, partly due to increased screening for the disease. However, colon cancer incidence continues to rise in young adults. In the last 10 years, the number of young adults with colon cancer has doubled, and the incidence rate has increased from 11 percent in 1995 to 20 percent in 2020.

Gut microbiota and colon tumors

Only about 10-15 percent of colon cancers are hereditary, so most colon cancers develop due to environmental factors. In recent years, scientists have placed more importance on the gut microbiome as a factor contributing to the development of colon cancer. Microbes can cause inflammation in tissues, which can mutate DNA cells in the colon lining. Scientists also know a certain type of bacteria called Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nuc) can suppress the immune response in the colon and make it more prone to cancer.

The study examined 917 types of fungi and bacteria in the colon tumors. F. nuc was one of the most common types of bacteria, and it appeared in about 30 percent of both early- and late-onset colon tumors. The researchers were also able to categorize specific bacteria and fungi that were more common in early-onset tumors while others were more common in late-onset tumors.

“Younger people with colorectal cancer have more biologically aggressive cancers, and whatever survival benefit they have by being younger is outweighed by the more aggressive tumor biology. We also know that, for the most part, genetics doesn’t explain the recent rise in young-onset disease,” said Benjamin Adam Weinberg, MD. “But we have trillions of bacteria residing in our body, including in our gut, some of which are implicated in the development of colorectal cancer; hence, we think the microbiome may be an important factor in the development of the disease, as it is involved in the interplay between a person’s genetics, environment, diet and immune system.”

Dr. Weinberg is an associate professor of medicine at Georgetown Lombardi. He hopes the new study may provide insight into why young-onset colon cancer rates continue to increase. With the current findings and plans to continue the research, the team wants to continue to explore how the microbiome and other factors influence colon cancer development. Analyzing the gut microbiota could provide critical information on how to target this microbiome for more sophisticated treatments.

Schedule a colonoscopy for digestive health.

When was the last time you had a colonoscopy? The American Cancer Society recommends that all adults at average risk for colon cancer begin screening at age 45, but certain risk factors may require earlier screening. Talk to your doctor about getting screened at appropriate times.

Statistics estimate about one in every 20 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.

CRC is a leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., but the disease may be prevented through timely screenings.

Healthcare agencies recommend that first screenings for people at average risk for developing CRC should begin at age 45. If you have certain risk factors, you may need to be screened earlier.

Several colorectal cancer screening options are available. Many individuals choose a noninvasive, stool-based test they can do at home. These tests are convenient, but they cannot diagnose polyps or tumors, and they cannot prevent CRC development.

Experts advise anyone who receives an abnormal stool-based test result to follow-up with a colonoscopy within six months.

Failing to get a follow-up colonoscopy or delaying the procedure is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer, as well as having the disease present at a more advanced stage.

CRC complications, mortality risk increases

Jeff T. Mohl, PhD, from the American Medical Group Association in Alexandria, Virginia, and colleagues conducted a mixed-methods cohort study, recently published in JAMA Network Open.

The study population included 32,769 Black, White, Asian and Hispanic patients aged 50 to 75 years who were considered at average risk for the disease. The data was collected between June 1, 2015, and June 30, 2021.

The study revealed 49 percent of patients who received abnormal stool-based test results did not follow up with a colonoscopy within six months. Only 56.1 percent of patients completed a follow-up colonoscopy within a year.

Researchers noted a significant decrease in follow-ups during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Patients who were Black or Asian, those on Medicare or Medicaid, and those who chose a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) (vs. mtDNA) had lower follow-up colonoscopy rates.

“At-home stool-based testing offers a useful tool to supplement routine colonoscopy and reach a wider patient population,” the researchers advised. “Nonetheless, it is important to emphasize that all positive stool-based tests must be followed by a timely colonoscopy to complete the screening paradigm.”

Get screened at age 45

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates 153,020 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 52,550 people in the U.S. will die from the disease this year.

If you are 45 and at average risk for CRC, ask your doctor about getting screened for colorectal cancer. Earlier screening is advised for patients with a family history of CRC or polyps, as well as those with digestive symptoms that may be caused by CRC.

The five-year survival rate is about 90 percent when colorectal cancer is found at an early stage before it has spread to other organs.

Also, if CRC is found early, more treatment options may be possible, according to the ACS. Only about four out of 10 colorectal cancers are found at this early stage.

Although it is more invasive than other screenings, colonoscopy is the only screening method that can both detect and prevent CRC. Colorectal cancer often begins as a growth, called a polyp, inside the colon or rectum. Colonoscopy involves a complete examination of the colon where doctors can find and remove polyps before they become cancerous.

“Not completing a colonoscopy after a positive (stool-based test) is associated with a significantly higher risk of CRC complications and mortality,” authors of the study reported.

For your health, ask your doctor about getting screened for colorectal cancer. Whether you need to schedule your first CRC screening or a follow-up colonoscopy, don’t delay this life-saving procedure.

Are you current with your preventive screenings? June is Men’s Health Month, which encourages men and their families to get regular checkups and increase awareness of health risks for their age, ethnicity and family health history.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 13 percent of men older than 18 are in fair or poor health. Less than one-third of adult men meet federal standards for muscle-strengthening activity. About 40 percent of adult men are obese and almost 52 percent have hypertension.

Men’s Health Week is June 12-18

Men’s Health Week is June 12-18. This initiative reminds men to maintain healthy bodies by eating a nutritious diet, getting regular exercise and getting screened to prevent disease. One of the most important preventive screenings is for colorectal cancer, including colonoscopy, which can detect and prevent colon cancer. Men should prioritize a colon cancer screening like they do other preventive screenings such as a prostate exam.

How common is colon cancer in men?

The risk of a male developing colon cancer is 1 in 23, which is slightly higher than a female (1 in 26). It is estimated there will be more than 106,000 new cases of colon cancer in 2023, as well as 46,000 cases of rectal cancer.

Because more people are getting screened, colon cancer incidence has been decreasing by about 1 percent every year. However, colon cancer rates have been increasing by 1 to 2 percent in adults younger than 50.

Warning signs of colon cancer and risk factors

Although colon cancer risk increases with age, you are never too young to develop the disease. Colon cancer is highly treatable when it is detected in the early stages. Because anyone can develop colon cancer, it is important to know the symptoms and warning signs of colon cancer.

• Abdominal pain
• Changes in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation)
• Blood in the stool

If you experience any of these warning signs, you should contact your doctor right away.

Colonoscopy: gold standard of colon screenings

Although there are many types of colon cancer screenings, colonoscopy is the most comprehensive test. Colonoscopy is the only screening that allows a doctor to inspect the entire colon for polyps, which can become cancerous. Your doctor can remove any suspicious polyps during your exam and have them analyzed.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men and women who are at average risk for colon cancer should start regular colon cancer screenings beginning at age 45. Those who are in good health should continue screening until 75.

Take a step toward colon health

This month, take the steps to support your health and wellness:

1. Eat more fruits and vegetables while limiting added sugar, saturated fat and sodium.
2. Stop smoking or do not begin smoking.
3. Stay active by getting 2.5 hours of exercise per week.
4. Schedule annual health screenings.

Many cases of colon cancer are preventable with routine screenings, so check with your doctor to get advice on which tests are best for you. Encourage family members to schedule colon, prostate and breast cancer screenings for their health.

May is Women’s Health Month, a time to encourage women to care for their physical, mental and emotional health. This year, we celebrate Women’s Health Week May 14-20. Besides exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet and getting adequate sleep, women can improve their overall wellness by scheduling preventive health screenings.

A colon cancer screening should be part of a woman’s health screening checklist, like annual mammograms, pap smears and skin checks.

Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.

A colon cancer screening is essential to a woman’s health because most colon cancer is treatable when diagnosed early. According to the American Cancer Society, doctors will diagnose more than 150,000 new cases of colon or rectal cancer this year, making it the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The lifetime risk for colon cancer is about 1 in 26 for women and 1 in 23 for men.

Many cases of colon cancer are preventable with regular screenings. Colonoscopy is the gold standard of colon cancer screening because it allows a gastroenterologist to examine the entire colon for polyps and other abnormalities. Most polyps can be removed during the procedure, thereby preventing them from becoming cancer.

Younger people with later-stage colon cancer

The death rate of colon cancer has decreased in both genders for several decades. There are several possible reasons for this change. More sophisticated screening techniques make it easier for doctors to detect polyps and colon cancer earlier when they are more treatable. Additionally, colon cancer treatments have improved over the years.

Although the overall incidence of colon cancer has decreased, the incidence in patients younger than 50 years old has almost doubled. In addition, research in 2019 found that adults younger than 55 comprised 20 percent of new colon cancer cases. Also, studies found the proportion of adults with later-stage colon cancer was 60 percent in 2019, compared to 52 percent in the mid-2000s.

“There is a lot of research going on,” said Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD, senior vice president for surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society. “Some people say it’s probably obesity or changes in diet over the past decades that might be a reason, but really, we don’t know exactly what causes this rapid rise in colorectal cancer incidence rates.”

Colon cancer screenings can prevent cancer

Routine screening offers the best defense against colon cancer. Unfortunately, only 4 out of 10 adults get screened at proper intervals.

Studies show barriers to screening include the following:

• Fear of the screening procedure
• Financial challenges
• Lack of insurance
• Transportation challenges
• Perceived lack of time

Even though colonoscopy is the preferred screening method, other screening options are less invasive and only take a few minutes to complete. There are also options for affordable colon cancer screenings, including low-cost colonoscopy.

Observe National Women’s Health Week and get screened

Ask your doctor when you should have colon cancer screening. The recommended age for screening is 45, but many adults are at risk for developing the disease earlier. If you have a family history of colon cancer or a history of precancerous polyps, you may be able to get a colonoscopy earlier. Finally, if you have digestive symptoms, you should discuss these with your doctor regardless of age. Everyone is at risk for colon cancer, so it is essential to ask your doctor when to begin colon cancer screening.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have symptoms similar to colon cancer, so it is imperative to know the symptoms of GI conditions and visit your doctor for evaluation.

What is IBS?

IBS is a cluster of symptoms that occur together, including abdominal pain and a change in bowel habits, like chronic diarrhea, constipation or both.

IBS affects 10-15 percent of the population, and up to 45 million Americans live with this GI condition.

Similarities between IBS and colon cancer

GI distress can be embarrassing and confusing. Sometimes knowing how long you should wait before calling a doctor is difficult.

IBS symptoms can mimic other digestive problems like colorectal cancer. They can share similar symptoms and warning signs, such as abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, constipation, bloating and diarrhea. However, symptoms like unexplained weight loss or blood in the stool could be an indication that you need additional testing.

Other potential warning signs for colorectal cancer — the blanket term for colon cancer or rectal cancer — include the following:

• A feeling that you are constantly full
• Feeling that the bowel is not fully emptied
• Urge to have a bowel movement when not needed
• Persistent gas pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Anemia from blood loss

Get regular colonoscopy screenings

Because both IBS and colon cancer can be serious, you should not dismiss your symptoms or try to diagnose yourself. Instead, you may need a colon cancer screening to rule out colon cancer.

Colonoscopy is the best colon cancer screening test because your doctor can view the entire colon and remove precancerous lesions, called polyps, during the exam.

Adults at average risk for colon cancer should get a baseline screening at 45, but those with a family or personal history of polyps may need to get screened sooner.

Call your gastroenterologist for an appointment

Do you have recurrent abdominal pain and bowel problems? April is IBS Awareness Month. The only way to determine whether you have IBS, colon cancer or another digestive disorder is to visit your gastroenterologist.

At your visit, your GI doctor can review your symptoms and your medical history, as well as perform a physical exam. Your doctor may recommend some dietary changes to help treat symptoms of IBS, like avoiding gluten and increasing your fiber intake. You may need some tests to rule out certain health conditions, but your doctor will discuss these details at your appointment.

If you knew that you could help save more than 100,000 lives, would you do it? The American Cancer Society predicts that there will be 106,970 new cases of colon cancer along with 46,050 cases of rectal cancer this year, but many are preventable with screening.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This monthlong initiative focuses on colorectal cancer (CRC) and promotes research, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and hopefully, someday, a cure for this disease. Many Americans are at risk for colon cancer because they are unaware of the facts of the disease:

1. Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
2. Researchers estimate 52,550 people will die from colon cancer this year.
3. No one is too young to develop colorectal cancer.
4. Adults at average risk for colon cancer should begin getting screened at 45.
5. Risk factors like age, family history, smoking, high-fat diet, diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and alcohol can increase the chances of developing colon cancer.
6. If you have a family or personal history of colon cancer or polyps, you should get screened earlier than 45.

Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon screening

Colonoscopy is the most effective colon cancer screening technique because it can not only detect colon cancer but also remove precancerous growths, called polyps, during a single procedure. Other tests can detect abnormal cells or blood in the stool, but patients must schedule a follow-up colonoscopy if they receive positive results. Colonoscopy uses a flexible tube with a camera to inspect the colon for abnormalities and remove or sample them for microscopic evaluation. Many people think colonoscopy is painful, but patients receive sedation and the procedure usually lasts less than 30 minutes.

Educate your community about colon cancer

Education is crucial for change, and that’s where you come in! You can do your part to get involved and spread the word about colon cancer awareness. Even children can be advocates for this life-saving cause. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Share on social media the importance of getting screened for colon cancer.
• Donate money to a group that supports colorectal cancer awareness like Fight Colorectal Cancer, Colorectal Cancer Alliance or the Colorectal Cancer Coalition.
• Wear a blue ribbon or a blue shirt on Mar. 3 — Dress in Blue Day.
• Talk with friends and family members about the importance of getting their first screening at age 45 (or earlier, depending on their family history). Send them this quiz to learn how and when they should get screened.
• Join a fundraiser for a nonprofit or charitable group focused on colorectal cancer education and research.
• Host an educational seminar at your local church, office or nonprofit group.
• Reach out to a local media outlet to discuss the disease and prevention on the air or in an article or editorial.

According to the American Cancer Society, colon screenings could prevent 60 percent of colon cancer deaths if people get screened starting at 45. Take the time to share with family and friends about the importance of getting screened and adopting healthy lifestyle habits that decrease colon cancer risk.

A new study finds that many Americans are unaware that alcoholic beverages increase the risk for several types of cancer, including colon cancer.

Alcohol is a well-established carcinogen that increases cancer risk and cancer recurrence. Alcohol use can increase the risk for mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, breast and colon cancer. Even someone who drinks only one alcoholic beverage daily displays an elevated risk for cancer, and the risk increases as a person consumes more alcohol over time.

According to Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, many adults are unaware that alcohol influences cancer risk. In fact, many Americans believe wine and even liquor have health benefits.

“Alcohol is a leading modifiable risk factor for cancer in the United States, and previous research has shown that most Americans don’t know this,” said the study’s lead author, Andrew Seidenberg, PhD, MPH, who conducted the study during a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute.

According to Dr. Seidenberg, alcohol contributed to more than 75,000 cases of cancer and 19,000 cancer deaths per year between 2013 and 2016.

Americans lack awareness of alcohol’s link to cancer

Dr. Seidenberg and his research team analyzed survey responses from a 2020 study of almost 4,000 adults. Participants answered the following question: “In your opinion, how much does drinking the following types of alcohol affect the risk for getting cancer?” The study recorded responses for beer, wine and liquor.

Some of the findings included the following:

• Less than half of Americans are aware that alcohol affects cancer risk.
• 2 percent of Americans were aware that liquor increased cancer risk, followed by beer (24.9 percent) and then wine (20.3 percent).
• Ten percent of American adults thought wine decreased cancer risk, while 2.2 percent thought beer reduced cancer risk, and 1.7 percent thought liquor reduced cancer risk.

The study found older adults had lower awareness than younger adults that alcohol use can cause cancer. Dr. Seidenberg believes this disparity may be due to long-standing drinking habits in the older generation.

Alcohol puts you at risk for colon or rectal cancer

While some claim resveratrol (a plant compound found in grapes) has health benefits, researchers have no evidence that consuming red wine can decrease colon cancer risk. Many studies have analyzed whether stopping alcohol use can lower cancer risk, but research shows it may take years for cancer risk to decline.

Moderate to heavy drinkers increase their colon cancer risk 1.2- to 1.5-fold compared to non-drinkers. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest men drink no more than two drinks per day and women drink no more than one drink per day. However, it is best for your health to only drink on special occasions.

Prevent colon cancer with routine colonoscopy

Colon cancer is one of the only preventable cancers because screening can be diagnostic and therapeutic. Colonoscopy is the best colon cancer method because your doctor can view the entire colon and remove abnormal tissue, called polyps, during the exam. If left intact, polyps may develop into cancer. Thus, you can prevent colon cancer by getting screened.

Are you current with your colon cancer screening? The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggests adults at average risk for colon cancer should begin screening at age 45, but those with a family or personal history of colon polyps or cancer should get screened earlier. You may also require evaluation for possible colon cancer if you have digestive symptoms. Call your gastroenterologist and make an appointment for a colonoscopy.

Consuming sugary beverages like soda, flavored coffees and energy drinks could increase your risk of cancer death.

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are any liquids that are sweetened with types of added sugars like corn syrup, brown sugar, fructose, molasses, honey, raw sugar and malt syrup. Beverages sweetened with sugar are among the leading sources of added sugars in the United States.

People who regularly consume sugary drinks are more likely to be overweight or obese. Drinking SSBs on a regular basis is also associated with:

• Heart disease
• Type II diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Non-alcoholic liver disease
• Gout

New Study Finds Link Between SSBs and Cancer Risk

Researchers looked at data from 1982, where 934,000 cancer-free participants provided information about beverages they consumed over the next 34 years. By 2016, about 135,000 participants had died from cancer.

People who drank SSBs were associated with an increased risk of obesity-related cancers and an increased risk for kidney and colon cancer. Artificially sweetened beverages also increased patients’ cancer risk. Participants who drank beverages with artificial sweeteners were more likely to develop pancreatic cancers.

“Unfortunately, Americans exceed recommended limits on sugar consumption by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, and sugar-sweetened beverages are known risk factors for weight gain, being overweight and obesity,” said Marjorie McCullough, lead study author. McCullough is senior scientific director of epidemiology research at the American Cancer Society.

SSBs Are Linked to Other Unhealthy Habits

Drinking SSBs is associated with other unhealthy behaviors. Frequent consumers of sugary drinks are more likely to …

• eat more fast food,
• get inadequate sleep,
• be more sedentary and
• have more screen time with phones, computers and video games.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but healthy habits can reduce your risk of developing the disease. Regular exercise and a well-balanced diet can reduce inflammation and prevent toxins from accumulating in the colon.

Instead of sugar-sweetened beverages and high-fat foods, eat a diet rich in whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. It’s also important to limit your alcohol intake and avoid smoking.

Schedule Your Colonoscopy at 45

Although there are many colon cancer screening methods, colonoscopy is the most effective because it allows your gastroenterologist to examine the entire colon and remove precancerous growths called polyps.

Most cases of colon cancer are preventable with routine screenings. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, adults at average risk for colon cancer should begin screening at age 45. However, it’s vital to know colon cancer affects people of all ages. You should begin screening earlier if you have a family or personal history of colon cancer or colon polyps.

New research suggests a stool test could help doctors create customized nutrition plans for patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis to reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.

Two Types of IBD: Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Certain types of dietary fiber can cause inflammation in the intestines for people who suffer from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). About 3.1 million Americans have IBD, and many people are unaware that they have the condition.

Many people do not fully understand Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week is Dec. 1-7. Created in 2011, this initiative seeks to educate Americans and raise awareness of IBD in hopes to eventually eliminate these diseases.

The first step in awareness is knowing the warning signs of IBD. Chronic symptoms include abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, persistent diarrhea, fever and weight loss. In children and adolescents, IBD may lead to growth retardation and delayed puberty. IBD can also impact the bones, eyes, skin, kidneys, liver and joints.

Diet and Its Impact on Crohn’s and Colitis

According to new research in the journal Gastroenterology, people who have IBD may soon receive personalized nutrition suggestions. Most adults should consume 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber per day, but fiber can affect people with IBD differently. Some types of dietary fiber can cause inflammation and exacerbate IBD symptoms.

The team performing the study is working to create a stool test that analyzes microbes in patients’ guts to predict who may respond negatively to certain types of fiber.

They discovered certain kinds of fibers found in specific foods are difficult to ferment if some microbes are malfunctioning or absent, as can be the case for Crohn’s and colitis patients. Some examples are artichokes, garlic, asparagus and bananas.

According to the study, between 20 and 40 percent of IBD patients have sensitivity to certain foods, but other patients benefit from dietary fibers. The research team developed a stool test to advise patients on how to make changes to their diets to prevent IBD flares. In some instances, patients can introduce foods back into their diets after avoiding them for a period of time.

“By creating this stool test, we are hoping to be able to tell you how to adjust your diet to prevent flares or further worsening,” said Eytan Wine, a professor in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. “It’s a dynamic situation, so it’s possible that a certain food you should avoid now, in a few months you’ll be okay to eat that again.” (Medical Xpress).

Colon Cancer and IBD

Having Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative colitis can significantly increase your risk of developing colon cancer. Chronic inflammation of the colon can cause rapid turnover of cells in the lining of the large intestine, and this increases the chance of cancerous cells developing. Therefore, patients with IBD should communicate with their doctors about regular colon cancer screenings.

When was the last time you visited your gastroenterologist? Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon cancer screening, so it is essential to stay current with your preventive exams. Call today to make an appointment.