• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Oko-Logic

HELPING YOU DISCOVER THE VERY BEST YOU

  • Home
  • Shop
  • About
  • Health
  • Clean Beauty
  • Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Home
  • Shop
  • About
  • Health
  • Clean Beauty
  • Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Disclaimers

Mobile Menu

colon cancer diet

The Search for Best Anti Colon Cancer Diet

April 2, 2020 //  by Joanna//  Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Blog
Pin

When I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, I knew instinctively that I had to commit to a diet change. Only which diet?

Searching online yielded only contradictory results. Eat this. Don’t eat that. And then, just one click away, totally opposite view.

My search for the best colon cancer diet was long and arduous. I’ll share my findings here.

  • My Nutritional Background
    • Ancestral Foods and Practices
    • Dealing with Shortages
    • No Junk Food
  • Dilemmas of a Health Conscious Foodie
  • What to Eat When You Have Cancer
  • What is the Best Diet for Cancer Patients
  • Search for Best Colon Cancer Diet
    • Vegan Diet and Juicing for Cancer Prevention
    • Keto or Paleo Approach to “Starve” Cancer
    • Just Eat
    • Hello Mediterranean Diet
  • General Diet Recommendations for Cancer Patients
  • Cancer-Fighting Foods
    • Related Post: Holistic Approach to Cancer

My Nutritional Background

Growing up in Poland, there was little to no talk of diets, nutritional fads, or fasting methods.

We ate what was there to eat, usually only seasonal stuff: fresh veggies and herbs during summer months, root vegetables, tubers, and dried legumes in the winter.

There was even a tradition to pull one’s ear the first time a new spring veggie or fruit would be eaten, first strawberry, first tomato, etc., for good luck and abundance during the summer.

Ancestral Foods and Practices

There was a lot of canning since, during wintertime, there really wasn’t much access to fruit or vegetable. It was unheard of to be eating anything from another part of the world.

Communist Poland was rarely importing any foods and even if it did, it was only from other communist countries, like occasional oranges or bananas from Cuba.

We ate animal products when they were available. During the worst economic crisis of the 1980s, meat was rationed and even then rarely available.

If you were lucky, had a large enough freezer, and knew a farmer who was raising livestock, you could buy a whole pig and have it made into sausages, ham, and meat portions to last you for a year.

poppy meadow
forest summer
mushrooms
Foraging for mushrooms and wild berries is one of my most cherished childhood memories

Dealing with Shortages

My parents did it once during the Martial Law in the dog days of communist rule.

My dad was transporting the goods in his little Polish Fiat, filled to the brim with the aromatic smoked meat and sausages.

When he got stopped by the police, they sniffed it out right away and he had to bribe them with some ham and vodka to be let go.

In any case, meat in those days was hard to get, but when we got it, it was fresh, made from animals that were pasture-raised, and have known no antibiotics or genetic modification.

No Junk Food

So we ate staples: bread, meat, dairy, potatoes, veggies, and fruit when available or canned. Maybe not the healthiest diet out there, but definitely local and seasonal, and not at all or only minimally processed. That’s what I grew up on, heritage foods.

I guess this is why to this day I am very wary of processed, packaged foods, or “Frankenfoods.”

In a supermarket, I generally omit all the aisles and roam only the perimeters where vegetables and fruits, fresh meat and dairy, and other healthier options are located.

pumpkin soup
Seasonal Veggies
salmon
Wild Salmon
apple
Lots of Fruit

Dilemmas of a Health Conscious Foodie

Today I am fortunate to live in California, the state probably most abundant in natural, locally grown and raised food.

There is a farmers’ market somewhere around almost every day of the week where I can buy fresh veggies and fruit, farm-raised eggs, olive oil, honey, and other staples.

I also started a small urban garden last year, which has been a moderate success, but I’m hoping for even better yields in the years to come.

We have been harvesting lots of cancer-fighting foods: tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, eggplants and squashes, and a true abundance of lettuces and fresh herbs.

What to Eat When You Have Cancer

Only this past year, I managed to relax a bit about what I should and should not eat in order to ward off cancer relapse and to keep my family healthy. (You can read about my 5 year-long journey here).

Especially in regard to the colon cancer diet, there is so much information out there, most of it conflicting or canceling each other out.

One day eggs are great, another day they are the spawn of the devil.

One week, coffee is the highly prized superfood we’ve been all waiting for. Another week it is a total no-no.

One month it’s all about a plant-based, preferably vegan diet; another month it is keto or bust.


What is the Best Diet for Cancer Patients

The regular doctors I was dealing with were not much help in regard to nutrition, even though this is such an important way to prevent cancer in the first place and to improve outcomes once someone has cancer already.

Apparently, mainstream medical training includes only a few hours of study of nutrition and cancer-fighting foods.

It also seems that dietary recommendations remain on the back burner when it comes to the continuing education of medical professionals.

The oncology department where I was seeing my doctors and receiving treatments would proudly display a bowl of sweets right at the entrance.

I understand the idea of trying to emotionally nurture the patients but c’mon, sugar and cancer really don’t mix together. It should be pretty obvious to everyone.

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.

Hippocrates

Why is there so little definite information about dietary guidelines for optimal health? A recent op-ed from the New York Times by Dr. Ludwig and Dr. Heymsfield suggests that it is because there are not enough clinical trials about food, due to a lack of funds.

Food sources – at least not the natural, real food – cannot be patented and branded and hence made into profits. It is easier to source funding for marketable new medicines because someone will be able to monetize on the results of the trial if it proves successful.

Therefore, a lot of information that can be found online about what to eat for optimal health and wellness is mostly opinion or based on anecdotal evidence.

What most people don’t realize is that food is not just calories; it’s information. It actually contains messages that connect to every cell in the body.

Dr. Mark Hyman

Search for Best Colon Cancer Diet

I tried many approaches before finding the sweet spot of natural, sensible, sustainable, real food that I find to be serving me and my family best.

cookbooks
Here are some of the diet/nutrition books I bought. This is in addition to hundreds of recipes I searched online.

Vegan Diet and Juicing for Cancer Prevention

For over two years before my diagnosis, I was strictly vegan. I made my own nut milk, my own vegan cheeses, and I liked it. My family, not so much.

Immediately after the diagnosis, I threw myself into researching dietary guidelines and from the thicket of suggestions in books and online, I chose as the most sensible one a mix of the Gerson juicing diet and the Budwig protocol.

We bought a cold press juicer, I ate and drank the recommended foods and drinks.

I wanted to keep it up, but when I lost almost half of my body weight, I was literally ordered to eat something more substantial in order to bring up strength for the upcoming chemo.

Keto or Paleo Approach to “Starve” Cancer

At this point, I sought help from a naturopath who put me immediately on a paleo/keto diet: high fat, quality meat and dairy, full fats, zero carbs, very little fruit, and only selected vegetables (nothing starchy).

It worked ok, until my surgery which left me without part of the colon and totally changed my bathroom habits.

The keto approach lacked fiber and was too high in fat for my compromised gut to handle. The diet was not sustainable long term. I had to change it up.

Just Eat

A bit later on, I followed my surgeon’s advice which was to basically eat what my compromised intestines would tolerate. It turns out it was mostly white carbs like white rice, bagels, and bananas.

I was stressing about eating what my gut tolerated, but what my other ‘gut’ was telling me would not keep cancer at bay.

I worried that all this carbohydrate content was turning straight into sugar and rising my insulin levels.

This seemed like a classic case of “feeding cancer” as one can read a lot (but it is not so simple, here is a link to an interesting read about sugar by Dr. Li).

Hello Mediterranean Diet

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and purchase the product I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more info see the Terms and Conditions Page. Thank you for supporting Oko-Logic.

Once I finished my treatments, my naturopath advised another change, one that I felt I would stick to and I did: a common-sense, Mediterranean-style diet.

It is a mainly plant-based plan but is also encourages a limited consumption of other foods.

  • wild-caught fish (salmon, sardines, cod are my favorite. See this post for a few ideas of how to quickly prepare the best wild-caught Alaskan seafood)
  • occasional organic, grass-fed meat
  • occasional eggs
  • healthy fats, especially olive oil
  • whole or wild grains like brown or wild rice, quinoa, barley, or wheatberry
  • sourdough bread (which I make myself with these starter cultures).
  • most importantly, at the diet’s center is an abundance of fruit and all the veggies I can find here in California.

This Mediterranean eating plan appeals to my taste and that of my family. It has positive effects on longevity and health, and it also just seems to be the most sensible approach to healthy eating.

Basically, I see it as the plan to EAT REAL FOOD. Also, it allows moderate consumption of red wine which I adore on occasion!

And, it calls for mindful eating, spending time with family and friends over food preparation and consumption, and celebrating the rituals around food.

search for best anti-cancer diet

General Diet Recommendations for Cancer Patients

Here are some general tips, adapted from the Mayo Clinic website:

  • Eat more fruits and vegetables. Aim for at least 7 servings a day of fruit and vegetables. I started my own organic garden last year but prior to this, I was always relying on a local farm box delivery.

You can try Farm Fresh to You with 10$ off your first four boxes (that is a total 40$ off). They provide weekly or bi-weekly deliveries and they are fully customizable (you can order fruit only or veggie-only or mixed box; you can also add eggs, handmade jams, and preserves; the service is super customer friendly.)

FFTY NewYearsBanner2020
  • Opt for whole grains. Switch to whole-grain bread, cereal and pasta. Try new grains like Kamut or Farro.
  • Use healthy fats. Try olive oil as a replacement for butter when cooking. Instead of putting butter or margarine on bread, try dipping it in olive oil.
  • Eat more seafood. Eat fish twice a week but avoid deep-fried fish. I discovered this amazing fishermen’s coop that delivers their wild-caught salmon, cod, halibut, and all other kinds of seafood right to my door. It literally is frozen on the boat, packed in dry ice, and brought to me within a few days. And it is amazing!!! Use coupon okologicAKseafood for 10% off at Alaska Gold Seafood. You won’t regret it!
  • Reduce meat consumption, especially red meat. Substitute fish, poultry, or beans for meat. If you eat meat, make sure it’s lean, antibiotic-free, and keep portions small.
  • Enjoy limited amounts of dairy. Eat low-fat Greek or plain yogurt and small amounts of a variety of cheeses. No sweet yogurt (those are sugar bombs); it’s better to get plain yogurt and sweeten it with honey or maple syrup or stevia. Even better, make your own yogurt or kefir.
  • Add fermented foods to your diet: sauerkraut, kombucha, miso, tempeh. These are all great choices to build up your gut flora.
  • Spice it up. Herbs and spices boost flavors.
Banner 728x90

Cancer-Fighting Foods

Probably the soundest advice I found in books so far has been in Dr. William Li’s Eat to Beat Disease.

Unlike a typical cookbook writer, Dr. Li explains the science of healing and prevention of disease by utilizing food to actively boost health.

He specifically discusses foods that help with regulating processes in our bodies that help to prevent disease: Angiogenesis, Regeneration, Microbiome, DNA Protection, and Immunity.

It’s a great read for anyone trying to get healthy and ward off disease.

Related Post: Holistic Approach to Cancer


How are you finding the balance between healthy and palatable in your search for the best cancer-fighting diet? How do you decide on what to eat and what not to eat? I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a note.

The Search for Best Anti Colon Cancer DietThe Search for Best Anti Colon Cancer DietThe Search for Best Anti Colon Cancer DietThe Search for Best Anti Colon Cancer Diet

Related Posts

  • running past cancer
    Running Helped Me Overcome Cancer

    In the process of battling and surviving breast cancer, Patricia Prince found a new love:…

  • ways to prevent cancer
    12 Risk Factors For Cancer That You Can Act Upon Today

    Cancer is a horrible disease and no wonder people are looking for ways to prevent…

  • why is it important to set realistic goals? celebrate New Years and set smart goals
    5 Years Cancer Anniversary: Luck, Love, and Lots of Work

    This November, I am celebrating my cancer anniversary. Five years is not a lot in…

  • sugar heap
    How to Reduce Sugar Cravings Now Even If You're Addicted

    I do have a sweet tooth. Or all 32 of them. I like many kinds…

Tweet
Share
Blog
Pin

Category: Cancer and After, Health, NutritionTag: anti-cancer, diet, food, nutrition

Previous Post: «oil with air bubbles Oil Cleansing for Face: Your Ultimate Guide to Do It Right
Next Post: Best Serum with Hyaluronic Acid for Plump Skin (DIY or Buy) hyaluronic acid for plump skin»

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Joanna

Joanna is a committed researcher and educator, passionate about health and wellness for herself - a cancer thriver - and her family. She is an avid clean cook and baker, a gardener, and an inquisitive formulator of gentle and effective organic skincare products. When not blogging, Joanna teaches college in the field of German Studies. She lives with her family in Los Angeles, California.

Get $50 off with Code GETZIIP

Use Code Joanna15 for 15% off

Never Miss a Post

See you on Instagram!

okologic

JOANNA 🌺 | Blogger
Hey guys, I know how frustrating it is when you ar Hey guys, I know how frustrating it is when you are struggling with skin issues β€” no matter what skincare routine you use, you can’t seem to get rid of whatever problem you have… that was me. First, dealing with acne well into my late 30s, then dealing with lackluster skin and signs of aging. Until… I changed my routine completely and went 100% natural, non-toxic, and minimalist. 

Imagine if in 30 days from now, you could heal your skin by using all-natural skincare that’s not only designed to help you but is also friendly to the environment. 

DM me too f you need advice of what yo start with and for the next week enjoy the Memorial Day discount - code MD20. Click on Shop link in my link tree in the bio β™₯️

#nontoxicskincareproducts #cleanbeautybrand #naturalskincarebrand #crueltyfreeskincareproducts #cleanerbeauty #healthyskincareproducts #naturalskincarelovers #mindfulbeauty #skinproduct #veganfriendlyproducts #goodforyourskin #handmadeisbestmade #embraceyourbeauty #plantbasedproducts #safeproducts #organicbeautyproducts #safeskincare #cleanbeautyproducts #cleaningredients #allnaturalingredients #cleanbeautyrevolution #treatyourskin #
bettereithage #ageboldly #midlifewomen #40andfabulous #beautyskincare #radiantskin #over50
Are you a science geek? I am a bit especially when Are you a science geek? I am a bit especially when it comes to science behind issues like gut health and skincare. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Here is a bit of science behind this OS01 serum.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
With the β€œscience of longevity” sector gaining rapid momentum in the public sphere, we are discovering that skin is not only a reliable indicator of overall health, but a major contributor to the prevention or development of age-related diseases. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
The secret is the OS-01 peptide, a revolutionary molecule that has been shown to decrease key markers of skin aging and increase epidermal thickness and resilience.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Clinical studies indicate that the OS-01 peptide improves health markers in the skin of human subjects, and in combination with the supporting ingredients in the OS-01 FACE Topical Supplement, significantly improves visual and functional health markers in skin.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Neat, huh? ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
If you want to know more, head over to my blog or click on the link in my bio ⬆️ ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Follow me @okologic to see new exciting natural skincare tips, ideas, routines and inspirations β™₯️​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
#skinprogress #skinneeds #nonastychemicals #naturebased #benatural #ecoconscious #skincarepost #glowyskingoals #skinadvice #skinhealthtips #skinjunkie #beautywellness #yourskinmatters #skinregime #healthyskinhappyme #skindiary #beautyiswellness #skincareobsessed #healthandbeautytips #beautyatanyage #amazingskin​​​​​​​​
#resultsdrivenskincare #skinnutrition #healingskincare #agelessbeauty #agelessskincare #midlifewomen #bettereithage #ageboldly #peptideserum
When you deal with gut issues, you’ll realize th When you deal with gut issues, you’ll realize this ancient saying to be the most important truth out there. Which doesn’t mean that illness won’t get you even if your diet is the healthiest that can be. I was vegan for a few years before getting colon cancer, and since battling it, I’ve been eating as best I can. Still, because of prior surgeries and cancer treatments, I’m still plagued by gut issues. Do I throw in the towel and start gorging on fast food and GMOs? Of course not! I pick myself up, recover from the setback, and start a new calm period with good eating and no tummy troubles. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Let food be thy medicine! As another ancient man has said. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
πŸπŸŽπŸ‰πŸ’πŸ«‘πŸ₯’πŸ₯¬πŸŒ½πŸ§„πŸ«β€‹β€‹β€‹β€‹β€‹β€‹β€‹β€‹
​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
 #foodforthoughtπŸ’­ #foodforhealth #eatplantsnotanimals #eatgoodfood #eatrealfoods #eatforthebodyyouwant #eatforlongevity #eatwellfeelwell #eattherainbow🌈 #eatrightfeelright #preventativehealth #preventcancer #plantbasedpower #plantstrong🌱 #healthyfoodie
My view for the next few days 😩 #postcancer #th My view for the next few days 😩 #postcancer #thegiftthatkeepsgiving
If pressed, I’d have to say that Aloe Vera is my If pressed, I’d have to say that Aloe Vera is my favorite skincare ingredient. It is so versatile! I use it in my gentle facial cleanser, my hydrating serums, I mix my face masks with it, and I make an anti-blemish spot treatment with it. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Turns out, Aloe is particularly well suited to treat blemish-prone skin. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, Aloe Vera has been used for centuries to cleanse wounds, kill pain, and heal burns. And that’s only when used topically! You can also ingest Aloe Vera and enjoy it’s soothing benefits for the digestive system.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Are you a fan yet? I hope so. Otherwise you’d be missing out on an amazing 🌱 πŸͺ΄ ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
 #aloe #aloevera #naturalskincare #naturalskincareproducts #naturalskincarelovers #antiaging #antiagingskincare #antiagingserum #antiagingproducts #naturalskincareproduct #naturalskincareroutine #naturalskincareworks #naturalskincarethatworks #naturalskincarereview #naturalskincareforchildren #organicskinfood #organicskincarethatworks #organicskincsre #organicskinlove #organicskinpruducts #organicskincarelover #loveyourskin #loveyourskinagain #loveyourskinmore #organicskincareproduct #beautycare #beautyaddict #beautytips #naturalskincarecompany #naturalskincareantiaging
Still on the fence about using facial oils? 

Don’t be. No matter what your skin type, it can benefit from the botanical goodness of a facial oil serum. Organic, fast absorbing blend of exquisite botanical oils will fight sign of aging and inflammation in your skin and leave it glowing!

#skinprogress #skinneeds #nonastychemicals #naturebased #benatural #ecoconscious #skincarepost #glowyskingoals #skinadvice #skinhealthtips #skinjunkie #faceoil #faceoilserum #beautywellness #yourskinmatters #beautyoil #selfcareproducts #toxicfreebeauty #embraceyourbeauty #naturalskincaretips #careforyourself #skinconfidence #organicbeautyproducts #naturalskincareroutine #selfcaretime #skincaretip
This week is #nationalwomenshealthweek and this Ma This week is #nationalwomenshealthweek and this May is #mentalhealthawarenessmonth 

So what is health? Certainly much more than β€œnot being sick.” There are so many dimensions of health and wellness. Physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental, financial, spiritual. Prioritizing health – in all its aspects – has never been more important, especially for women. Juggling too many things at once, saying yes to too many responsibilities, many women have put off taking care of their general health and wellness needs. 
And now, we have others (mostly men in the government and the highest court) presume they can make health decisions for us. 

Scary times, and times to fight for our health and well-being. 

What does health mean to you? Let me know in the comments 😊 

#healthylivingforall #healthhack #healthyswap #selfcareadvocate #thinkhealthy #keepinghealthy #gethealthynow #livehealthier #selfcareformoms #takecontrolofyourhealth #lookafteryou #smartchoices #choosehealth #healthmotivation #maketimeforyou #midlifewomen #happyhealthylife #healthyyou #healthyoptions #healthierme #healthychoice
Three questions I get a lot both here and on my bl Three questions I get a lot both here and on my blog:

What do you use on your skin? 
Everything I use is handcrafted by me, with one exception, the OS01 Peptide Serum which I would not be able to replicate because the powerful ingredients are proprietary (link to it in my bio)

Is your skincare organic?
About 95-98% organic. There are a few ingredients which are not certified organic like leucidal liquid to preserve my HA serum and a few extracts. All oils, butters, hydrosols and essential oils are organic.

Are you really 50+?
Yes indeed, and thriving! Ever since getting cancer at the age of 45, birthdays don’t have the ominous meaning that they might have for some. Every year is a gift and a new chance to enjoy life to the fullest. 

Hit me up with any other questions, and share a bit about yourself. 

πŸ’‹ xoxo

#midlife
#midliferocks #midlifestyle #midlifeadventures #midlifeconfidence #midlifematters #midlifewisdom #midlifewellness #midlifetribe #midlifewomenrock #midlifemagic #midlifemotivation #itsnottoolate #bettereithage #ageboldly
HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY to all who celebrate! Moms, d HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY to all who celebrate! Moms, daughters, grandmothers, mothers-in-spirit, have a wonderful day filled with love and gratitude.
🌺🌸🌼🌻 🌺🌸🌼🌻
Pushing the stroller is my wonderful mom, behind her my grandma. In the stroller a month-old me. Poland 1968. 

#mothersday2022 #happymothersday❀️ #mymama #oldphotos #lovemymother #happymama
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

  • Beauty
  • Cancer and After
  • DIY
  • Guest Posts
  • Health
  • Life
  • Nutrition
  • Recipes
  • Sustainability
  • Uncategorized
Change Your Life with matcha tea

Footer

“Happiness is the highest form of health.” Dalai Lama

Recent Posts

  • Ever Heard of Polish Sorrel Soup? Now Let’s Make It
  • Learn an Easy Herb Infusion to Fortify Your Skin Care ProductsοΏΌ
  • Yummy Fish With Pineapple SalsaΒ That Takes Only Minutes To Make
  • What Does Recent Research Say About Coffee And Cancer
  • Are There Any Proven Benefits of Charcoal Soap for Skin Health?οΏΌ

Categories

  • Beauty
  • Cancer and After
  • DIY
  • Guest Posts
  • Health
  • Life
  • Nutrition
  • Recipes
  • Sustainability
  • Uncategorized
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Disclaimers
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Site Footer

Copyright © 2022 Β· Mai Lifestyle Pro on Genesis Framework Β· WordPress Β· Log in