The Big Picture: Dr. Puja Uppal, Family Medicine. says, “Another reason to love beans!”
Doctor’s Expert Insights About Gut Health and Colorectal Cancer in Georgia
Know this: “Something that not a lot of people are fully understanding is that the rates of colorectal cancer are skyrocketing in America and the world–particularly among younger people. This new study adds to our understanding that improving our gut health can lead to colorectal survivorship. It’s a big deal! Fiber helps with motility and absorption in our body. Beans help with enhancing our gut bacteria diversity–this helps reduce inflammation and improve overall gut health. Eating beans is a simple, affordable, and powerful way to improve our gut health. Also of note, new guidelines suggest that if you’re 45 and older–it’s time to get a colonoscopy.” Dr. Shelandra Bell, Family Medicine.
Beyond the news: By showing that specific dietary interventions can reduce cancer risk and increase survivability–this opens the door for more research into how different foods can influence our microbiome and cancer risk.
Further Steps: Schedule a colonoscopy if you’re 45 years and older–do it sooner if you have any family relatives who’ve had colon cancer in their past. The CDC has a comprehensive page about these new guidelines. (Visit Here)
Health Alert for Brunswick
Key Drivers in Glynn County:
The study showed that colorectal cancer survivors who ate a cup of navy beans every day saw a big change in the mix of bacteria in their guts.
This shift was marked by an increase in beneficial bacteria and a decrease in pathogenic bacteria, suggesting a link between diet and gut health.
“Observing a shift in microbiome diversity with diet intervention alone is rare, and this study underscores the ability of a readily available prebiotic food to bring about such changes.” Carrie…
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