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A diet of foods high in fat, especially from animal sources. Frequent

charcoal broiled/barbequed foods may also contribute to risk, as do

diets lacking plenty of fruits and vegetables. More details on diet

are provided below.

•Lack of regular exercise (a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate

exercise is recommended on five or more days of the week - consult

your doctor before starting to exercise)

•Being overweight (especially around the waist and stomach)--nearly

three quarters of Americans are overweight. Few people need more than

2,000 calories a day, yet the daily average is closer to 3,700. Being

overweight also triggers a range of other health problems and issues

•Smoking (we knew that smoking causes lung cancer, but smokers are

also 30 to 40 percent more likely to die of colorectal cancers)

•Heavy use of alcohol

More on Diet

Dietary habits and nutrition are important in the prevention or cause

of colorectal cancer. In summary, a diet high in fresh fruits and

vegetables, restrained in calories, alcohol, red meat and animal fat,

helps reduce your risk of colorectal cancer. High fat foods and

animal proteins should be consumed in moderation. If meat is to be

part of the diet, it should preferably be organic and hormone-free.

The experts also recommend that it be predominantly white meat, such

as chicken and turkey.

The surprise about fiber: Surprisingly, there is not clear scientific

proof that a high fiber diet reduces the risk of colorectal cancer.

But, the experts recommend a high fiber diet, because it promotes

colon health, facilitates regular bowel movements and may well reduce

colorectal cancer risks. In addition, fiber helps reduce cholesterol

levels.

The truth about broccoli: by contrast to a widely held perception,

cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower have not been

scientifically proven to have anti-cancer properties. However, the

experts strongly recommend inclusion of such vegetables in one's

diet, and many believe that they may reduce cancer risks. For

example, it has been suggested that proliferation of colon cancer

cells has been significantly reduced by concentrations of an element

( " sulforaphane " ) found in cruciferous vegetables.

It has also been suggested that calcium, folate, selenium, fish oil

and phytochemicals are important elements in diets that enhance

protection against colorectal cancer.

In addition to the above, despite some debate, many experts recommend

limiting cured (smoked and pickled) meats because excess consumption

could increase risks of colorectal cancer.

The Women's Health Initiative is investigating whether a diet high in

calcium and Vitamin D can protect against colorectal cancer. This

raises the question whether a diet low in calcium or Vitamin D may

increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

For those with colorectal cancer, some experts recommend avoiding

sugar, because tumor cells use glucose from the breakdown of sugar as

their primary energy source. It has also been suggested that sugars

can compromise immune function and trigger increases in insulin that

further accelerate cancer cell division.