Stock Photo

(Best Syndication) A study published in the Lancet indicates that taking aspirin can substantially reduce your risk of contracting colon cancer. British researchers say that taking a 300mg tablet of aspirin a day for five years can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 74 per cent in the subsequent 10-15 years.

The overall reduction in lifetime risk for taking the aspirin for five years is 37 percent. A team from Oxford University followed up on a 1970s and early ‘80s randomized study and found the good news for aspirin users.

Stock Photo

Researchers from the Rutgers University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture found a blueberry compound called pterostilbene may prevent colon cancer. These researchers found potential for the compound when in their animal study they were able to prevent colon cancer from developing. The study was first presented at the 233rd national meeting of the American Chemical Society. The study was funded by the National Cancer institute.

Pterostilbene is a powerful antioxidant that these researchers believe could be developed into a pill which might be an alternative treatment of colon cancer with fewer side effects than other commercial drugs. Unlike other fruits and vegetables that have shown to slow down the progression of colon cancer, this antioxidant is showing potential to actually prevent the disease from developing. Pterostilbene will not however cure colon cancer. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States.

Stock Photo

A diet that is low in folate may increase the chances for developing colorectal cancer. The study conducted at MUHC was first reported in today’s scientific journal, Cancer Research. Another benefit that the same research team found with a high folate diet was the prevention of heart disease.

Foods that are fortified with folic acid which is a synthetic form of folate are breads, cereals, flours, corn meals, pastas and rice. Foods that contain naturally high levels of folate include soy beans, spinach, lettuce, and asparagus to name a few.

MyCancerPlace http://www.mycancerplace.com the first worldwide community for cancer patients, has just been launched. It’s allows members to create a real community where they can connect and network with other, share personal stories and emotional support, discuss treatment information and resources, listen to teleconferences, find out about cancer events, create personal web pages with text and pictures that can be updated and changed easily, and more.

We have heard of the many benefits of eating fiber, one being it helps keeps your intestinal tract regular. Dr. Paul L. McNeil who is a cell biologist at the Medical College of Georgia reported how fiber benefits digestion and improves the health of the intestines. Mc Neil first published his study in the online August 21st edition and also will appear in the September print issue of PLoS Biology.

The roughage of the fiber increases mucus production which has been known for years. Mc Neil discovered the reason in which he says, “When you eat high-fiber foods, they bang up against the cells lining the gastrointestinal tract, rupturing their outer covering. What we are saying is this banging and tearing increases the level of lubricating mucus. It’s a good thing.”