Colon health is not something most people pay much attention to, especially if none of their family members have been affected by colon problems. But everyone should be paying attention to this.

Advertisement

While woman are also affected, men have a far higher risk of colon cancer after age 50 than women do.

Seventy-five percent of people who develop colon cancer, have no predisposing factors for this condition at all. But colon cancer is not the only condition that can affect the colon – there is also something called a colorectal adenoma, also known as colon polyps, which is a precursor to colon cancer.

Calcium lowers colon cancer risk
The good news is that adequate intake of calcium, often in the form of supplements, may help reduce the risk of recurrence of colorectal adenomas. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported that people who included 700-800mg of calcium in their daily diets, had a far lower risk of distal colon cancer (distal refers to the left colon).

A group of study participants taking Caltrate-brand calcium carbonate supplement, turned out to have 24% fewer recurrent adenomas than the placebo group, according to a study published in the New England Journal.

Things to do to keep your colon healthy

• Learn more about colon health and a healthy lifestyle
• Go for a colonoscopy at age 50 - especially if you're male and there is a family history of colon cancer
• Eat a healthy, high-fibre diet, rich in fruit and vegetables
• Get regular exercise (aim for half an hour a day)
• Find out more about the benefits of a calcium supplement from your healthcare provider

(Health24)
 

Print this article

Rate this article Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent

JOBS

Senior Secretary Gauteng - North/Sandton Infrastructure Resource Gauteng - Johannesburg Management Accountant R450,000-500,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - Johannesburg Financial Manager R350,000-400,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - Johannesburg Financial and Project Accountant R300,000-360,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - Johannesburg Financial Accountant R380,000-420,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - Johannesburg SSIS Business Intelligence Specialists (SSIS; SSAS) R350,000-500,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - North/Sandton Financial Accountant R350,000-450,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - South Find more jobs Register your CV Post a job