CHADWICK BOSEMAN’S DEATH: HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF COLON CANCER AT A YOUNG AGE

So sad that my son wouldn’t grow up to know the inspirational actor of ‘Black Panther‘, the star: Chadwick Boseman who battled 4 years after being diagnosed with colon cancer.

However, his death has raised a spotlight on colon cancer and its rise among the young generation. Initially, he was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, meaning it had already grown through his intestinal wall. It eventually progressed to stage 4, indicating the malignancy had spread beyond his digestive tract.

Do you know, that in most cases of colon cancer, newly diagnosed patients only know when the disease has progressed onto stage 2 & 3 and at this point chemotherapy is the primary therapy and surgery. This is because this type of cancer is common between the ages 15-40 years and at these ages, being religious with an annual health check of your colon health by doing an unpleasant colonoscopy or stool analysis isn’t top priority, well unless if you have a family history of crohn disease or colitis.

Here’s the truth, colon cancer is curable, if found early. when the cancer is limited to the intestinal wall, which is stage 1 and 2. It doesn’t have to be a death sentence.

Who is most at risk?

The people at greatest risk for colorectal cancer include: people with a history of inflammatory bowel disease, either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, or a family history of Lynch syndrome. Another set of people at risk of colon cancer is smokers and people who struggle with obesity.

A fatty diet increases your chance  to this type of cancer and stress plays a major factor.

How can you reduce your risk of colon cancer?

Your diets is key. Firstly, avoid processed food especially pork meat, even processed red meat and high consumption of sausage  are associated with colon cancer.

Next embrace friendly foods, one which is a MUST-HAVE is chlorophyll. Chlorophyll are richly found in bitter herbs. For example the bitter leaves and other alkaline herbs. Chlorophyll heals the bowel,especially eating more green foods.

Here is a simple African Alkaline herbal tea recipe, you can include in your lifestyle to prevent it:

Add 3 grams of licorice root, in Yoruba this is called Pako Ata to 300 ml of water and bring to a boil.  Next add 1x handful of washed bitter leaves, to the boiling water and allow to simmer for 5 mins. Don’t forget to turn of the low the heat. Then allow to the water to cool before stirring the water into a glass bottle for storage. Finally drink it as a shot every morning. Do not add any form of sweetener, the licorice root will add a level of sweetness and is a fantastic spice for healing the gut.

For more details on the African  alkaline herbal teas, visit www.gaiafarm.com.ng Written by Rashidat Raji-Siwoku, MSc Pharma, Herb specialist and HACCP 1 & 2 certified.