A disturbing trend that could be stopped by a massive change of habits. According to a British colorectal cancer specialist, adding fibers to your diet can protect you from intestine cancer.
Colorectal surgeon at the Harborne Hospital in Birmingham (United Kingdom), Dr. Haney Youssef has noted an increase in cases of intestine cancer and delivered to the Daily Mail some nutritional advice to guard against it.
Colorectal cancer cases increasing in 25-49 year olds
As the British media explains, the majority of Western countries face a constant increase in the number of colorectal cancers diagnosed within their population, particularly among young people. In France, no less than 47,582 new cases were identified during the year 2023.
In the United Kingdom, the annual rate of increased cases among 25-49 year olds was measured at 3.59%, according to statistics from a study published by The Lancet Oncology. In France, the increase is barely less pronounced since the annual rate is 2.09%.
A correlation established for a long time by research
According to Dr. Haney Youssef, this continuous increase must worry public authorities, but also citizens, who have power, better balancing their diet, to protect their body from the threat of intestine cancer.
“Research systematically shows that people who consume enough fibers have significantly lower colorectal cancer levels,” said the specialist, taking up a well -known element of scientific literature on this subject.
Consume at least 25g of fiber per day reduces the risk of colorectal cancer
Dr. Youssef does not fail to establish a link between the deficit of fibers in the daily food consumption of adults in the United Kingdom and the constant progression of colorectal cancers, judging the situation “worrying”.
According to the Bowel Cancer UK Institute, this deficit would be in question in at least 28% of cases diagnosed in the country. Conversely, numerous studies, carried out in particular by the International Center for Research against Cancer, have concluded that there is a reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer in people consuming at least 25 grams of fiber per day.
A role of “internal cleaning system”
As Dr. Haney Youssef explains, these fibers present in many plants and which are neither digested nor absorbed by our body play a role of “internal cleaning system: they help to eliminate waste while nourishing good bacteria which keep our intestinal environment in good health”.
“The fibers help to maintain regular stools, thus reducing the time that potential toxins spend in contact with the intestinal wall, continues the British expert. It is crucial because prolonged contact with harmful substances can damage the delicate wall of our colon and our rectum.”
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Benefits on cells protecting our digestive system
By accelerating the evacuation of these toxic substances, the dietary fibers therefore make it possible to avoid this “prolonged contact” with our digestive system, which can be devastating for the latter. The benefits of these complex plant carbohydrates do not stop there.
“When the bacteria beneficial of our intestine ferment the fibers, they produce short chain fatty acids like the butyrate, describes Dr. Youssef. These compounds actually feed the cells that line our intestine and have anti-inflammatory properties helping to prevent cell changes that can lead to cancer”.
Eat more fibers by “gradually increasing”
Adding that daily consumption of dietary fiber can also protect your body from certain parasitic bacteria such as the famous E. coli, Dr. Youssef therefore recommends adding food fibers to your diet.
Among the recommended foods, the Daily Mail cites in particular “complete oats, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds”, with the objective of consuming this type of food at each meal. “The key is to gradually increase to allow your digestive system to adapt comfortably,” says Dr. Youssef. To give you the best chance of avoiding intestine cancer, the path to follow is all traced.
