When it comes to colorectal cancer, Tennessee has made progress — nearly 70% of residents over 50 have been screened. Still, the largely preventable disease takes far too many lives each year: 1,200.
Fortunately, there are easy habits you can adopt to lower your risk:
- Get screened
- Limit alcohol
- Exercise and maintain a healthy weight
- Eat more colon-friendly foods
In Tennessee, an average of 7.5 potential years of life are lost to colon cancer
When it comes to colon-friendly eating, the rules are simple:
Eat more:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Whole grains
- Fiber-rich foods
And less:
- Red meat (beef, lamb)
- Processed meat (hot dogs, deli meat, sausage)
Lentil burgers
Full of flavor, fiber and protein, these burgers are delicious grilled or pan-seared. Bonus: they’re vegetarian and vegan-friendly.
Greek stuffed chicken breasts
Spinach is a good source of fiber and minerals including potassium, iron and folic acid. Lean, white chicken meat is also a great way to add protein without red meat.
Grapefruit and avocado salad
Simple and surprising, this salad has only 5 ingredients but is full of vitamin C and fiber. Grapefruit also contains flavonoids, which have been shown to slow the production of cancer cells.
Pesto penne pasta with Brussels sprouts
This recipe uses whole-grain pasta, green vegetables and a zesty sauce to create a hearty, fiber-rich dinner that will keep you feeling full.
Zucchini chocolate-chip muffins
Equally delicious for breakfast or dessert, this riff on zucchini bread uses chocolate for sweetness and walnuts for texture and fiber.
