The risk of colon cancer may be directly associated with one's weight and gender, specifically among women. According to studies, women with a high body mass index (BMI) are at a significantly higher risk for colorectal neoplasia than other women and men.
Neoplasia refers to the process that results in tumor formation and growth.
In the study, researchers examined 2,300 patients who underwent colonoscopies, endoscopic examinations of the colon. The patients consisted of 1,250 men and 1,050 women. The average age of the participants was 57. It was discovered that a high BMI was associated with an increased risk of colon cancer for women.
With this in mind, researchers divided the women into several groups based on BMI and evaluated screening tests. They were hoping to discover whether the tests detected high-grade dysplasia (a precancerous change in the colon) or cancer.
Researchers found that women with a BMI of 40 or more (obese) were 5.2 times as likely to have colonic neoplasia detected during colonoscopy than women with a BMI of 25 or less (a healthy weight). The conclusions were also adjusted for:
It was also concluded that fat distribution and fat type may be additional factors that influence one's risk for colon cancer. However, it has yet to be determined why women are at a significantly higher risk than men. Researchers suggest it may have something to do with the fact that BMI is used as a surrogate measure for body fat. Thus, the fact that women have less muscle is accounted for among men and women with similar BMI.
EurekAlert November 1, 2004
You probably already know from reading my twice-weekly newsletter, that obesity is a precursor to various cancers. This is due to the overproduction of insulin.
You see, when you eat grains and sugar your insulin levels increase. When insulin levels increase, you are telling your body to store carbohydrates as fat and to not release any of the stored fat. (This makes it impossible for you to use your own stored body fat for energy.)
So the excess carbohydrates in your diet not only make you gain weight, they make sure you keep that weight on. By cutting grains and sugars from your diet, you will not only tame your weight but also fight colon cancer and several other chronic illnesses.
However, you must also keep in mind that certain fruits and vegetables should be eaten in moderation because of their high sugar levels. For instance, potatoes ranked high on the list for vegetables, but are not necessarily the best choice because they can cause an increase in your insulin levels.
Therefore, controlling insulin levels is one of the most important things you can do to optimize your health.
To help normalize your insulin levels and modify your diet, I recommend finding your personal metabolic type. You can discover what you nutritional type is by taking the free on-line nutritional type test on my Web site.
Remember: What may be healthy for others is not necessarily healthy for you and vice-versa. And eating according to your metabolic type is really the only way to ascertain what is good for you.
Breaking the sugar addiction is a constant struggle for many people. For this I recommend using the energy psychology tool Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). This psychological form of acupressure can be enormously helpful in kicking the sugar habit. I have been using EFT to successfully treat emotional stresses, including food cravings for some time.
You can use my free EFT manual to learn this technique, or you can seek assistance from my EFT Series on DVD or VHS.
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