Do you know how healthy your poop is? - June 2015

Colon Cancer usually starts as clumps of precancerous cells (polyps) on the inside lining of the colon. They may be recessed, flat or mushroomed shaped. If they are removed early Colon cancer can be prevented.

Most Bowel cancer occurs in the descending colon and rectum. Last year 16, 980 Australians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It's the third prevalent cancer worldwide overly represented by men.
Some factors which increase the risk of Bowel cancer are;

• A lack of physical activity: Everyday get that body moving maye a casual walk or a HITT (High Intensity, Interval Training), which may take up only an hour a week
• Reduce Alcohol intake, especially beer & spirits. A little red wine appears protective
• Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease sufferer's are 4-10 times more at risk of developing bowel cancer
• Type 2 diabetes patients have a 30% increased risk of Colorectal Cancer
• Lack of fibre and hydration

Helpful preventative supplements are:

• Vitamin D
• Selenium at least 70mcg/day
• Vitamin B's such as Folate & B6
• Aged garlic - research suggests a 20% reduction in the number and size of colon tumours
• Turmeric - a naturally powerful anti-inflammatory, reduces the promotion and progression stages of carcinogenesis. It also inhibits shoddy DNA repairs, which are defective in colon cancer cells
• Grape seed extract has a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of colon cancer cells
• Ivy leaf extract (in some oral natural cough liquids) has been shown to have anti-tumour activity and helps induce cell death in colon cancer

Let your food be your medicine - great ways to have amazing bowel movements.
4-5 Prunes a day, not only keeps you regular, they also boost your antioxidant levels. The insoluble fibre gels up when it is mixed with body fluids and loosens stools.
Whole leaf aloe vera gel is an effective method for stubborn bowels. 1-2 shot glasses of aloe on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, works wonders.
Water is great. Fill up your glass or stainless steel water bottle and get sipping through the day. 8-10 glasses of filtered water not only keeps your body wonderfully hydrated with better brain function, there will be an immediate improvement in bowel function.
Apples (organic if possible or home grown) have high levels of pectin which binds with excess toxins and flush them out.
Digestive Enzymes work to break down food faster, which means food moves more quickly through the colon.
Probiotics if you find yourself constipated after a course of antibiotics make sure you take a high quality refrigerated probiotic with a high bacterial count.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Poop 101
In it's early stages, bowel cancer often has no symptoms, a change in Bowel habits may be the only indication. Every day (hopefully) your poop is telling you about your health. Bowel changes such as; 

• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Smaller or more frequent bowel movements
• Narrower stools
• Mucus in the stools
• A feeling that the bowel hasn't empties completely
• Blood in the stools or on the toilet paper
• Unexpected weight loss
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Rectal or anal pain
• Abdominal pain or 
• Low red blood count

If your poop isn't healthy, your digestive tract is either; moving too fast or too slow - which can lead to chronic conditions such as autoimmunity and chronic inflammatory conditions. Not only that, recent research suggest that your brain and the good bacteria in your gut, communicates directly with each other, influencing your mood, Immune system and inflammation levels.

How often is normal? We are all different. The general agreement is we should all poop every day, the healthy range is between 1-3 times a day. Poop is the body needing to get rid of toxins and waste, which we don't want to hang on to. A normal poop should come out easily. Some people may be able to read an entire newspaper, battling it out in the little room, whilst others may barely be able to hang on. 
A healthy poop is a complete one, if you're never quite empty then you;re not having healthy bowel movements.
Think of your poops like the warning lights on the car dash board. The temperature gauge light may go on, to alert you to fill the radiator, or that it has a leak. Problems can be adverted before the engine blows up and you're stranded on the side of the road.

So what's the perfect poop? If you look at the Bristal Stool chart, type 4 is the perfect poop; long, like a snake or sausage, smooth and soft. If not, your body might be telling you, that you are:

• Short of stomach acid
• Digestive enzymes are dehydrated
• Food sensitivities may be an issue i.e. gluten and/or dairy

References:

Duncan MJ, Spence JC, Mummery WK (2010) Perceived environment and physical activity: meta-analysis of selected  environmental characteristics. Int J Behav Nutr Phys 2:11
Hensrud DD, Heimburger DC (1998) Diet, nutrients and Gastrointestinal cancer. Gastenterol Clin Am 27:325-346
European prospective Investigation of cancer and nutrition cohort Int J Cancer. 2015 Mar 1; 136(5) 1149-61
Lul BX, Zhou JY, LiY, Zou X, Hederagenin from leaves of ivy (hedera hellx L.) induces apoptosls in human LoVo colon cells through the mitochondrial pathway. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Oct 24:14:412.
Malaguti-Boyle M, PhD cand. ND lecture on Coloretal cancer
ATMS Statistics released by the Australian Institute of Health and welfare & Australasian Association of Cancer registries.
Suong N, T, Ngo, Desmond B. Does Garlic reduce the risk of colorectal cancer? A systematic review. Nut. Oct 2007 vol 137 no. 10 2264-2269
Yan Y-X, Hennessey S, Lewis JD (2004) Insulin therapy and colorectal cancer risk among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Gastroenterology 127:1044-1050

Written by: Kathleen Faile - Naturopath Calanna Pharmacy Atherton
 e: atherton@calannapharmacy.com.au