Doctor who ‘sees colon cancer every day’ shares what he eats to prevent it

A doctor who treats people with colon cancer regularly has shared his diet tips to give you the best chance for avoiding it.

Unfortunately when it comes to cancer there is no simple trick that will guarantee avoiding it, people can stick to health advice all their lives and still get it while people who live incredibly unhealthy lifestyles can avoid it.

But what you can do is give yourself the best possible chance of avoiding it, and gastroenterologist Dr Joseph Salhab has explained what foods he eats based on the various studies around healthy diets.

"These foods have been associated with colon health, gut health, fiber intake, and colorectal cancer risk in studies," he told his followers as he shared the foods he likes to try.

The doctor tries to eat half a cup of day of cruciferous vegetables, so that's veg like broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.

He's also a fan of yoghurt and oats in the morning, each day he eats a couple of ounces of tree nuts, while he also chows down on fresh fruit like kiwi, watermelon and those bursting with citrus.

The doctor noted that apples and cinnamon can protect your gut, and avocado is very good for the bacteria in there.

"The common theme: more fiber, more plant diversity, more whole foods, fermented foods, nuts, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and better gut health," he told his followers.

What is colon cancer?

Colon cancer is cancer that's found anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum.

"How serious bowel cancer is depends on how big the cancer is, if the cancer has spread, and your general health." the NHS states.

According to Bowel Cancer UK, roughly 44,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every year in the UK, and notably, the number of cases are increasing amongst adults between 20 and 50-years-old.

Symptoms of colon cancer

According to the NHS, the main symptoms of bowel cancer may include:

• Changes in your pooing habits such as such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
• Needing the toilet more or less regularly than before
• Bleeding from your bottom, or blood in your poo that can look red or black
• Feeling like you need to poo even if you've just been to the toilet
• Tummy pain
• A lump in your tummy
• Bloating
• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling very tired for no reason, a symptom of anaemia which can be caused by bowel cancer

If you have any of these symptoms for three weeks or more than you should see a doctor, if you have bloody diarrhoea or there is blood in your poo then do not wait and book an urgent appointment.

If you're bleeding from your bottom then call 999 and be taken to hospital.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.