colon cancer survivor Sharon Osbourne (Photo : Reuters)
High-fiber diet may dramatically reduce risk of colon cancer, the fourth deadliest form of cancer also known as bowel, rectal or colorectal cancer, according to a recent study.
In just two weeks, Black Americans had a dramatic drop in risk factors for colon cancer after switching to an African high-fiber diet, as discussed in the study published in the journal Nature Communications.
On the other hand, a group of Africans who began eating American food rich in fats and animal proteins increased their risks of colon cancer rise also in just two weeks.
According to the researchers, the results were not surprising as eating more fiber is expected to reduce colon cancer risk. However, it is the how dramatically and quickly the effects showed that surprised them.
Imperial College London' Jeremy Nicholson, co-leader of the study, said the findings reveal that colon cancer may become a major health issue in Africa as the Western diet is increasingly making its way to the region.
"There is good evidence from other studies that the changes we observed are signs of cancer risk," Nicholson claimed although they cannot "definitively tell from these measurements that the change in their diet would have led to more cancer in the African group or less in the American group."
As compared to the Far East and Africa, Western countries have much higher rates of death related to colon cancer.
High-fiber diet foods include Southern-Style Cajun shrimp and dirty rice, strawberry basil Farro salad, creamy cilantro bean casserole, shaved Brussel sprouts salad, lemony spinach split pea soup and banana date Chia seed muffins, and mashed bean bowls with roasted vegetables, fig, spinach, and cauliflower "Couscous" salad, according to Shape magazine.
