Keep Your Guts Healthy Naturally
Most of us take our “guts” pretty much for granted, until something goes wrong. Then we discover how miserable a malfunctioning digestive tract can be. Digestive problems can be a signal of poor immunity and poor nutrition. And cancer of the colon, rectum, throat and mouth are all too common. There are plenty of things you can do to keep your digestive tract strong and healthy, resistant to infection and cancer. In addition to the most obvious—(don’t smoke!) — here are our top choices, based on the latest research.
- Drink green tea every day. A recent study found that women who drank green tea every day had a 37% reduced risk of colorectal cancer compared to those who did not drink green tea. Each bag of tea used was associated with a 10% reduction in colorectal cancer. Green tea consumption has also been linked with a reduction in a number of other digestive tract cancers, including throat, stomach and pancreatic cancer. These tissues have direct contact with the cancer-protective compounds in green tea, called polyphenols. If you find it difficult to drink green tea every day, then take a green tea extract supplement with a high percentage of ECGC (50% to 70%).
- Take a high-potency multiple vitamin and mineral, especially one that provides good amounts of the antioxidant nutrients carotenoids, vitamins C and E, selenium and zinc.
- Get enough vitamin D. Optimum amounts (about 2,000 IUs of vitamin D daily) could reduce the risk for colon cancer by two-thirds, researchers say.
- Take a probiotic or eat live-culture yogurt daily. Probiotics literally mean “for life” and these friendly microorganisms have demonstrated immune-enhancing effects. They also play a critical role in detoxifying many cancer-causing substances, including hormones, meat carcinogens and environmental toxins.
- Eat fish, not beef. Meat-heavy diets are strongly tied to colon cancer. Fish and fish oil, on the other hand, reduce risk. If you don’t eat fish regularly, take 1,000-2,000 grams of fish oil daily.
- Drink red wine or grape juice three times week, and eat lots of berries. They all contain compounds that help stop mouth, throat, colon and other cancers.
