As a gastroenterologist, Trisha Pasricha, MD advises her patients to make small changes - one at a time, and once every month - to create new, healthier habits. Question: I’ve been worried by the reports of colorectal cancer rising among younger people. What can I do to lower my risk? Pastricha: Although we don’t have control over many aspects of why we develop cancer - including our genetics, our environment and our early childhood exposures - there are a few areas where our own decisions can have a big impact.
I advise many of my patients to start by changing their diet. Eating a Mediterranean-style diet , which is rich in legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables, can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by around 18%. But so many people have been raised on a typical Western diet of highly processed, low-fibre meals, and their palates are accustomed to it.
I have only rarely met patients who can go from zero to 100 when it comes to a dietary change. So what I recommend is making small healthy swaps until you create a new habit and lifestyle you’re actually comfortable with. Try making these changes one at a time, once a month:.
