Chapter 35, Problem 22A

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

Reason behind the consumption of fiber food for protection against colon cancer.

Introduction:

Colon cancer is a large intestine cancer that is the final part of the digestive tract. It can happen at any age but it is mostly seen amongst the older adults. In this disease, benign cells clump together and form polyps inside the colon and these polyps become cancerous. The symptoms include; change in bowel habits like constipation and diarrhea, blood in the stool or rectal bleeding, abdominal discomforts like cramps, fatigue, and severe weight loss. Some patients are observed to be asymptomatic during the initial stage but lately, the symptoms appear severely.

Explanation of Solution

For avoiding the risk of colon cancer, many dietary habits can be beneficial for the patient. The diet includes different vegetables, whole grains, and fruits that help against rectal or colon cancer. The patients are prescribed to avoid red meat and processed meat as this complex food may increase the risk of colon cancer. In most cases, it is observed that the patients are advised to include fiber foods in their diet as the fiber foods move faster in the digestive tract resulting in a reduction in the transit time. In other words, the consumption of fibrous food reduces the time potential carcinogens to sit in the intestine by diluting the carcinogenic agents and it also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Conclusion

The fiber foods can be digested easily and can move faster in the digestive tract. Further, it reduces the accumulation of carcinogenic agents in the colon. Therefore, fibrous food is good in reducing the risk of colon cancer.