Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Canada. What can you do to boost and heal your digestive health naturally?
What happens to the delicious steak or irresistible apple strudels that you just indulged over dinner? They passes through your digestive system, and breakdown to nutrients in your gut to power your body. The reality is, not everyone’s digestion functions efficiently, resulting in a host of diseases. What can you do to boost and heal your digestive health naturally?
The Facts
More than 20 million Canadians suffer from digestive disorders every year, according to the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF). That’s about 55% of the Canadian population. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer behind breast and prostate cancers – the second most expensive to treat, after lymphatic cancers, cites CDHF.
Colorectal cancer refers to colon rectal, or bowel cancer – a collection of diseases resulting from uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine).
Good News
The good news is that colon cancer is treatable, and there is life after surgery and treatments, even for an 84 years old senior. John was initially hospitalized for acute pneumonia. Doctors later diagnosed him with Stage III colorectal cancer. After his surgery, he lived with a stoma. John continued to walk daily, and enjoyed four wonderful years with his wife, who only cooked using the freshest ingredients.
After a rectal cancer surgery five years ago, Mary at 89 is still eating and living well. Like John, she walks as part of her daily routine.
Diet and Lifestyle Matters
A Balanced Diet and an Active Lifestyle are important to getting your gut to love you.
Your Gut Health Improves when there is Love, but it Starts with You.
Healthy eating is essential for achieving overall health and well-being, even more so when one’s body is fighting diseases. Having lived the experience, individuals and caregivers impacted by diseases like colorectal cancer realized how demanding it can be on their personal and professional lives.
Health the Way Nature Intended
For Leanne Chan, her challenges as a caregiver did not deter her from empowering others. Her labour of love and care for her partner, Darrell Pedersen, a colorectal cancer thriver, resulted in the launching of the lifestyle guide book: Health the Way Nature Intended – A Guide to Eating and Living Well With a Stoma.
The book was developed out of her need to help her partner restore his health after his surgeries and treatments. Through all the challenges, his partner is doing well and continues to give back to the community.
Chan said her book was created with thoughtfulness for caregivers and their patients living with a stoma or compromised digestive system due to colon cancer treatments, Colitis or Crohn’s disease.
In her book, Chan developed mindfulness training, plant-based meal plans, fresh juices, smoothies and daily exercises to help individuals strengthen and nourish their bodies.
Contributors to the book include celebrity food-stylist, Joanne Strongman and award-winning food photographer, Bruce Law.
All book sale proceeds are donated to support individuals and their families become cancer thrivers. More information on the book is available at The Cancer Store.
Links
Canada’s Food Guide
Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada
Crohn’s & Colitis
