About Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is a disease characterized by cancerous polyps on the colon or rectum. The formation of colonic polyps with age is not rare, but they are usually benign. Detection of cancerous polyps is typically done through an invasive procedure called colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer in the world for both men and women, according to The World Health Organization.
How Fiber Can Reduce Colonic Transit Time
All plant matter contains substances called fiber, though there are many different types of fiber. There are two characteristics common to all fiber: it cannot be digested and it absorbs water. When a person eats a diet rich in fiber, the undigested fibers mix with other food throughout the digestive system, absorbing water and softening the digested waste matter. Because the water-saturated waste is softer, it can more efficiently move through the intestines and colon. This helps reduce colonic transit time, which is the amount of time it takes for food to be expelled from the body after being eaten.
Relationship Between Fiber and Colorectal Cancer
While there is scientific evidence that suggests fiber and the resulting shortness of colonic transit time can help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, the scientific and medical communities have not definitively proven that this is the case. Furthermore, there is no scientific evidence that a high fiber diet and reduced colonic transit time will prevent colorectal cancer; it is important to recognize the difference between prevention and risk reduction when considering the studies into this medical issue. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that many medical studies show a correlation between high-fiber diets and reduced colorectal cancer risk, but a major study from the Harvard School of Medicine found no such correlation after a 20-year study involving more than 88,000 adult female subjects. The FDA also says a collection of studies show that colorectal cancer rates are higher in countries where the typical diet is high fat and low fiber than they are in countries where the typical diet is low fat and high fiber.
Theories on Fiber's Cancer-Fighting Abilities
According to the FDA, it is not yet known exactly how high-fiber diets may help reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. However, there are several theories regarding how this may work. One theory is that there is a relationship between hard, compacted fecal matter in the colon and the development of cancerous polyps, and that a high-fiber diet helps to keep the requisite constipation at bay. Another perspective is that the combination of vitamins and nutrients present in high-fiber diets may interact to help fight cancer in a way that is not yet understood by science. Some also theorize that there are unknown elements common to high-fiber foods that help reduce cancer risks.
Tags: cancerous polyps, colonic transit, colorectal cancer, help reduce, high fiber, high-fiber diets, transit time