ANTI-COLORECTAL LIFESTYLE PART II

More changes you can make in your lifestyle to help prevent colorectal cancer.  See part I below.

• Limit alcohol.  If you drink, cut way back.  Studies have shown that people who average 2 to 4 drinks a day have a 23% higher risk than those averaging less than 1 drink a day.  (Personal note:  I have never drunk alcohol but still had colon cancer.  Again, I have serious digestive system issues which probably caused mine.)
• Exercise.  Sedentary people are about twice as likely to develop colorectal cancer as highly active exercisers.  Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderately intensive exercise a day.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Don't smoke.  Researchers have enough evidence to conclude definitively that smoking tobacco contributes to colorectal cancer.  Women appear to be more susceptible to precancerous polyps from smoking than men, according to a study published online in July 2011 in the Journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences.

Trust me, this is a disease you don't ever want to deal with.  Do what you can to prevent it!

ALCOHOL, DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Alcohol, even in small amounts, destroys brain cells.  While a healthy person can withstand this brain cell loss while drinking moderately, an Alzheimer's - or any patient with dementia - patients must not drink alcohol even in small amounts.  Not only will drinking alcohol cause a more rapid progression of the disease, but it can also interact with the antidepressants and other medications the patient is probably taking.  Do yourself and your relatives or friends who suffer from dementia and/or Alzheimer's a favor by keeping them away from all alcohol.

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ALCOHOL AND ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

Note: This information is from 2015. However, I checked this week, and the information is still valid. Also, alcohol may play a role in other cancers.

The International Journal of Cancer has reported that having two or more alcoholic drinks a day raises estrogen levels and doubles endometrial cancer risk.

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DO YOU DRINK ALCOHOL?

Do you drink alcohol? If you do, you need to read the rest of this post. There are many reasons to stop drinking alcohol or to cut back on the amount. Here are a few reasons you may not have considered or even known. Alcohol can cause inflammation in the body and inflammation is responsible for a lot of health problems. Alcohol is known to increase inflammation in the intestines, disrupting gut bacteria. Alcohol can change brain structure and function. It can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of stroke and heart disease. Experts recommend no more than one alcoholic beverage per day for both men and women.

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ALCOHOL AND SURGERY

If you are having surgery and you drink alcohol, you need to discuss this with your doctor. And be honest with the doctor, after all hiding your addiction could cause major problems for you! If you have more than one or two drinks a day, you could be putting yourself at risk with surgery. Severe withdrawal can cause death during or after surgery. Some of the problems caused by severe withdrawal are seizures, nervous system damage, irregular hearbeat, and respiratory failure. Moderate drinking, one or two drinks a day, is not usually a problem but more than that just might get you into serious trouble. If you are planning to have surgery and you drink very much you should be very forthright with your surgeon and you should cut back on the alcohol in preparation for surgery. Afterall, your life could depend on it.

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EATING AND SLEEPING

What and when foods or beverages go into your mouth have a lot to do with how well you will sleep.  And a good night's sleep is essential to good health.  Here are a few tips regarding this subject:

• According to Dr. Nancy Collop, director of the Emory Sleep Center and a former President of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, you should not drink alcohol close to bedtime.  She says that while alcohol may make you sleepy at first, it causes you to feel more awake as it wears off.
• Dr. Collop also suggests eating dinner earlier rather than later.  She says your body needs at least two hours after a light meal and at least three hours after a heavy meal to digest food.  Eating too close to bedtime makes it hard for your body to wind down since it is still working on digesting your meal.
• While you won't want to have a meal close to bedtime, it is a good idea to have a light protein snack an hour or so before bedtime, if you have trouble sleeping.  The brain needs protein to produce melatonin and serotonin, both chemicals important for sleep.  Suggestions include 1 tablespoon of hummus on 1/2 a mini whole-grain pita or a small amount of peanut butter on 1/2 slice whole-grain bread.

By the way, Dr. Collop says it is normal to take up to 20 minutes to fall asleep.  She says if you fall asleep the minute your head hits the pillow, it is a sign you are sleep deprived.

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