Why eat fruits and vegetables?Most of us have heard of colon cancer colon cancer, cancer of any part of the colon (often called the large intestine). Colon cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. , sometimes called colorectal cancer colorectal cancer Malignant tumour of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Risk factors include age (after age 50), family history of colorectal cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, benign polyps, physical inactivity, and a diet high in fat. . Rectal cancer Rectal Cancer Definition The rectum is the portion of the large bowel that lies in the pelvis, terminating at the anus. Cancer of the rectum is the disease characterized by the development of malignant cells in the lining or epithelium of the rectum. may be a less familiar term. The rectum, where rectal cancer occurs, is located at the end of the large intestine large intestine End section of the intestine. It is about 5 ft (1.5 m) long, is wider than the small intestine, and has a smooth inner wall. In the first half, enzymes from the small intestine complete digestion, and bacteria produce many B vitamins and vitamin K. ; it is about 7 inches long. About 1 of 8 deaths from colorectal cancer is due to rectal cancer. Some, but not all, studies of colon cancer have found that high fiber diets reduce risk. Do high fiber diets reduce risk of rectal cancer? Researchers from the University of Utah The University of Utah (also The U or the U of U or the UU), located in Salt Lake City, is the flagship public research university in the state of Utah, and one of 10 institutions that make up the Utah System of Higher Education. examined 952 people with rectal cancer and compared them to 1,205 people without rectal cancer. Subjects were asked to recall their diet two years before the start of the study, which, for the people with cancer, was two years before their cancer was diagnosed. Fruit, vegetables, and whole-grains were associated with a reduced risk of developing rectal cancer. High intakes of dietary fiber also reduced the risk of cancer. While some may question whether a person's diet two years before they are diagnosed with cancer reflects their lifetime diet, these results are consistent with other studies of colorectal cancer that show that diets high in vegetables and fruits can help to protect against this disease. Slattery ML, Curtin KP, Edwards SL, Schaffer DM. 2004. Plant foods, fiber, and rectal cancer. Am J Clin Nutr 79:274-81. |
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