Calling Gen Xer’s and Millennials – it’s time to listen to your gut!
When we talk about gut health it’s easy to see our own gut trouble in isolation – an embarrassing little problem…
Did you know that colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death in the world?*
The good news is overall colorectal cancer rates are doing down. The bad news is there’s an alarming increase in colon cancer in young people.
Although 90% of colon cancer is diagnosed in those over 50, young people are 58% more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease**
Let’s just take a moment to digest that…
Embarrassment and uncertainty mean we don’t often talk about our gut health. But it matters…
What we can do about it?
Be proactive – if your bowel habits change, don’t sit on it! Talk to your Doctor.
What you need to know:
Detecting colorectal cancer in its earliest, curable stages is key. A colonoscopy could save your (or a loved one’s) life!
The other good news is that there’s a lot we can do to reduce our risk. There isn’t a single medical consensus on why there is such a rise in young people, but I’ll play devil’s advocate here…
As someone living with IBD I am aware of how much diet and lifestyle play a role in managing gut health.
In the Western World, our diets have changed beyond the recognition of our grandparents and great-grandparents. So let’s just say we can safely assume what we eat is a key piece of a complex jigsaw…
- Reduce highly processed food
- Eat more real foods, think veg, grains, legumes
- Increase our fibre intake
- And move more – movement is good for our gut microbiome.
If you’d like to know more about taking care of your gut and want to read a holistic love letter to good gut health, follow this link to check out my book Calm Your Gut, published by Hay House.
With love,
Cara
Sources:
*https://wdhd.worldgastroenterology.org/ongoing-wdhd-campaigns/wdhd-2022/
**https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/colorectal-cancer-in-young-peopl
