Awareness Crisis: ‘Many Americans are unaware’ of the connection between Processed Foods and cancer – particularly colon cancer. A new survey by concerned physicians reveals almost half of all US residents are in the dark…
Just a few of the high-fibre foods you can add to your
diet to help lower your risk of colon cancer…
March was National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. And a new poll commissioned by the Phys-icians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and Morning Consult (MC) highlighted a major knowledge gap. Nearly half of Americans do not realize that eating processed meat is linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer.
A crisis in the making
This lack of awareness is nothing less than a healthcare crisis in the making.
“In light of colorectal cancer now being the leading cause of cancer deaths in adults under 50, it’s concerning that so many people still don’t know about the strong connection between eating pro-cessed meat and the risk of developing colorectal cancer,” says Dr Joseph Barrocas, an internal med-icine specialist from Huntersville, NC.
Hope on the horizon
However, according to an abstract of the survey report, the results also suggest that awareness can quickly shift opinions. “After learning about the connection, about two-thirds of respondents said they would support warning labels on processed meat products to highlight the cancer risk.”
That, in turn, suggests that: “More health care practitioners have to be educated about the link be-tween diet and colorectal cancer,” Dr. Barrocas concludes, “and in addition to recommending screen-ing, discuss with patients the […] benefits of a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans.”
A global scourge
Colon cancer alone effects millions of people around the world. It costs global healthcare systems hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Any improvement in public awareness that could reduce the patient and dollar-cost numbers would be a major advance.
Yui can start today!
You can start reducing your own risk of colon cancer today, simply by including the right foods in your diet. Some may already be in there!
“Research shows that for every 10 grams of fibre we eat each day, we can lower our colorectal cancer risk by up to 10 percent,” says Anna Herby, DHSc, RD, CDE, and nutrition education specialist for the PCRM. “Simple ways to get that include eating a cup of raspberries, 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, or two-thirds cup of black beans.”
~ Maggie J.