The bum's rush A friend's husband recently had to have his first colonoscopy. To
say that he wasn't looking forward to it would be an
understatement. In fact, I can't even repeat the strong language he
used when he discussed it. But with two members of his family
already battling colon cancer, he couldn't avoid it anymore. He dodged the cancer bullet, but he did have a couple of polyps.
The warning bell was rung. Now what? he wondered. He's not alone. Colon cancer is the most common gastrointestinal
cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United
States. And colon polyps are often the cancer's precursor. But
there is something simple you can do, starting today, to keep them
from occurring in your own colon or to help alleviate them if
they've already made an appearance. Yet another study has confirmed what earlier studies hinted at a
few years ago: Calcium supplementation is a key factor in the
prevention of polyps. Study participants experienced a 14 percent
reduction in all polyps and a 35 percent reduction in advanced
polyps. A total daily calcium intake of 1,200 mg. or higher is the
current recommendation. Dr. Wright wanted me to remind you of a few other colon-
protective steps too, such as increasing your fiber intake to as
much as 25-30 grams daily, supplementing if necessary. Also, limit
your intake of grains and eliminate refined sugar from your diet for
the absolute best chance of staving off this common cancer. The
1:1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 that we discussed the other day
(8/2/04 eTip, subject line: "Evolution revolution") applies here,
too. Of course, calcium, fiber, and essential fatty acid supplements
won't do you much good if your system isn't able to absorb them
efficiently. Most people, especially as they age, have insufficient
levels of stomach acid, which interferes with proper digestion and
absorption. If you suspect you might have low stomach acid,
consider getting your levels checked to be sure. If you have a family history of colon polyps or colon cancer, you
might want to be even more diligent about monitoring your colon
health. There is a simple, inexpensive home test called a stool
butyrate determination that can help you keep track of things.
Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid produced by friendly colon
bacteria from fully digested fiber. Without enough butyrate, your
colon doesn't do a very good job of resisting carcinogens, which
makes it a good marker to keep an eye on of if you are an at-risk
individual. If your butyrate is normal, most likely it means that you're eating
plenty of fiber and your digestion is efficient. But if the rate comes
back low, odds are you aren't getting enough dietary fiber or your
digestion is imbalanced in some way, and you should get checked
out. Years ago, just the word cancer made most of us blanch with fear
and a sense of helplessness. Today, we know so much more about
prevention than we ever have before. Now, we just have to do it.
That half of the battle is up to each of us. *********************************************
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S.O.S. for IBS Q: I suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, and have been very
tempted to try the new drug Zelnorm. But the long list of side
effects has me spooked. I saw your tip suggesting peppermint oil,
which I have found helpful. But I need more if I'm going to stay
off the pharmaceutical path. Any further suggestions? JVW: I'm glad you're shying away from Zelnorm. Once again,
patient medicine companies are simply throwing symptom-
managing medications at conditions that should be rooted out by
the cause. But there are several more natural suggestions in
addition to peppermint oil that can offer some real relief. First, there are three kinds of symptom groups that occur in cases
of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): abdominal pain with diarrhea,
abdominal pain with constipation, and abdominal pain with
alternating constipation and diarrhea. While IBS is not "all in your
head" as some practitioners might suggest, certain psychological
factors can make it worse. For this reason, my colleague Kerry
Bone, an herbalist, has often suggested that IBS sufferers use herbs
that are good for the nervous system, such as St. John's wort and
valerian root. Also, chamomile has both a relaxing effect and is
soothing to the digestive tract. But the real route to long-term relief is to get to the root of your
problem. IBS is often used as a catch-all diagnosis for the
symptoms I listed above, which makes your job a bit tough. Food
sensitivities, lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance,
psychological factors, and stress -- or some combination of these --
could be your culprit. It will take some work to uncover the cause
for you. You might want to start by keeping a journal of what you
eat, how you are feeling, and when you experience your symptoms
and see if you can uncover any patterns. Then, systematically
eliminate the irritating factors. It might also be a good idea to locate a supportive doctor who is
familiar with natural remedies. It may take some patience on both
of your parts to find the solution, but I have seen many of my
patients get rid of their IBS for good without patient medications. *********************************************
How to Pummel Old Age and Please Your Wife This "miracle cure" helps you increase muscle mass and grow lean
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depression... It can even improve your marriage by boosting your power and
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chemical your body flooded you with when you became a man. The
problem is, your body stops the flow as you age. Now, learn how
your body can naturally produce this "miracle cure" again: http://www.youreletters.com/t/41962/2873601/643/0/ ********************************************* What is…bladder diverticulum? Bladder diverticulum are pouches in the bladder wall that a person
is either born with or later acquires. They can occur in both men
and women, although this condition is somewhat more common in
men. Acquired bladder diverticulum are usually related to bladder
obstruction, most commonly from benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH). Generally, a person with a bladder diverticulum
experiences no symptoms or discomfort unless the pouch becomes
very large and causes incomplete bladder emptying and stagnation
of urine, which can lead to infection. While antibiotics can keep
occasional infections at bay, chronic urinary obstruction can
become a serious problem. Surgery to remove the diverticulum is a
last resort, but can be necessary in some cases. Note: In the 8/05 eTip (subject line "Facing Facts"), a typographical
error occured in relating the dosage amount of folic acid for skin problems.
That amount should have read 1 milligram, not 10 milligrams. We apologize for
any confusion resulting from this error. Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing Sources:
Wallace K, et. al. "Effect of calcium supplementation on the risk of
large bowel polyps." J Natl Cancer Inst 2004; 96(12): 921-925 Holt PR "Dairy foods and prevention of colon cancer: human
studies." J Am Coll Nutr. 1999; 18(5 Suppl): 379S-391S. | 
