Reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer

• Get to know your bowel pattern – This will enable you to know what is normal for you and to recognise when and if changes occur. Check your motions – look in the toilet pan, use a torch if the light is poor and inspect your motions. They should be mid to dark brown in colour.
• Avoid constipation – If you are straining to go to the toilet or, are passing hard dry motion, you are most likely to be constipated. Constipation slows down the passage of waste products through your digestive system allowing waste to remain in the system for longer than normal. Motions should be kept soft to move things quickly through the colon.
• Increase the fibre – Fibre helps bulk the motions and speeds the passage of waste through the digestive system. Increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in your daily diet will help the colon empty itself frequently and easily (at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day are recommended).
• Lower the fat – Diets low in animal and diary fats are known to reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer. Cutting down on visible fat such as fried food, trimming excess fat on meat and poultry and reducing the amount of ‘hidden’ fat in foods such as chocolate, read more