It seems pretty unclear whether or not diet has conclusively, definitively been proven to cause or prevent colorectal cancer. But it also seems like a lot of smart people believe that there’s certainly some kind of association between what you put in your body and your likelihood of developing cancer in your colon or rectum. Even if we don’t totally understand it yet, your colorectal health might just be a microcosm of your overall health.
The way I see it, I’d be nuts not to make some changes to both what and how I eat. If everyone is wrong and these changes are all based on fiction? Well, then, I guess my risk of recurrence stays flat and I just get generally much healthier in a bunch of other ways. Works for me. Plus, I have a fairly major surgery coming up here and I want to do everything I can in the next week-plus to be as healthy as possible — physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually — going into it. Does cramming for an exam work? The teacher in me scoffs, but I’m taking no chances.
This is one time I’m actually glad to be putting something personal on the interwebs, because now — once we’re all hanging out again post-pandemic — my temptation to order a beer, a steak, a mound of fries, and a giant slice of cheesecake will be outweighed by your judgment of me as a pathetically hypocritical (worse, fraudulent) blogger.
(By the way, I won’t judge you for ordering that. I’m the last person to judge anyone for their food choices; we all have our stuff. I just have strong conviction that it’s really, really not smart for me to keep eating like I have been.)
So without further ado, here’s my first round of changes:
- No more red meat; chicken and fish only, and smaller proportions of those as compared to the rest of the meal
- No more processed meat (bacon, sausage, cold cuts, etc.)
- No more fried foods or fast food (sorry, French fries — our love affair has been real)
- No more candy (I’d pretty much cut this out already anyway)
- No more coffee, or caffeine other than green tea
- No more alcohol
- Generally, WAY more fruits and vegetables
- Eat slower
- Eat more frequently
- Eat less
I’m sure that over time, I’ll refine this. Never having made changes this drastic before (yes, these feel drastic to me!), I have no idea how it’s going to go. But I’m married to a world-class chef who does incredible things with veggies — many of which can be found here — so I like my odds.
And since every new diet loves company: Anyone with me?
Check Your Butt 