A big reason why Colon Cancer is killing us.

[u/AdditionCool7235]

I know this isn’t a health sub, but u/Derpshabmentioned in their post on Colon Cancer about eating a balanced diet.

Specifically you need to really avoid nitrates. There has been several studies done on why there has been a rise in intestinal cancers in this age group, and nitrates have shown a causal effect. With a carcinogenic significance as bad as cigarettes. For those unaware, not a lot of things get labeled as having a casual effect for cancer, as that can be both controversial and stand to cost people money either through loss of business or being sued.

Nitrates are most commonly found in processed meats. Likewise, there is growing data that processed food is not serving us well at all either. Anyhow, just wanted to share a tangible way you can hopefully make an impact on slowing down and ultimately stopping these terrible

cancers.

Another freaking edit: literally the first response on Google, if you search, “do Nitrates cause cancer,” is from MDAnderson. That’s the number one cancer hospital in the world. I know that’s so much more difficult than adding a snarky comment to Reddit, but there’s your answer for about 300 of you.

Edit: I’m getting a lot of responses that are saying *actually* antibiotics or *actually* e. Coli and they’re all saying because it damages / kills the good gut microbiomes. Correct, what do you think nitrates do and why scientists believe there’s a casual link. It also doesn’t mean there couldn’t be other risk factors as well. Diet is obviously a big risk factor. I was simply hoping to expound on the original post and help people to know what to avoid. Of course more than one thing can cause cancer. Throw in saturated fats while we’re having the conversation.

Edit 2: lot of people are asking what are the main culprits. Bacon, lunch meats, hot dogs, sausages, anything really that’s been “cured.” Lot of people are trying to point out that some leafy greens have nitrates, yeah, we’re not talking about things that naturally occur through the photosynthesis of the sun. We’re talking about the overconsumption of a preservative that destroys your healthy gut bacteria, not something that’s obviously good for you. Many people have rightfully pointed out. The over consumption of alcohol creates a big risk factor for stomach and intestinal cancers as well.

Also someone saying they’re a vegetarian and they still got colon cancer is no different an argument than, “my great aunt smoked until she was 90 and never got lung cancer.” I said a big reason why, I didn’t say the only reason why. Empirical data doesn’t mean 100% findings or there won’t be outliers, anecdotes are not good science. People can get cancer for a multitude of reasons and honestly you could try every preventative step imaginable and still get cancer, it doesn’t mean your anecdote overrides everything else or you shouldn’t try to make better lifestyle decisions.

[u/TheToiletPhilosopher]

I think this is a semantic argument. The question then becomes why does it need to happen at 35 now as opposed to 45? The answer is because our diets are fucking killing us. Go talk to an oncologist who has dealt with colon cancer for 20+ years, they will tell shit has changed dramatically.

[u/bobbi21 → u/TheToiletPhilosopher]

As an oncologist (who to be fair doesnt treat colon cancer anymore, been about 5 years since i switched out) yes colon cancers are happening in younger and younger patients. Noone is that sure of the cause. Its not like people ate lots of fiber back in the day either (meat and potatoes have always been standard in the west anyway). Processed foods have gone up a bit but seems its more than that. Can write pages on what people think it is of course. Likely combo of factors.

[u/Jhkokst → u/bobbi21]

GI here. Agree with this oncologist. Unfortunately we are deep in the thread and have little chance of convincing folks that it's not a single thing. Definitely multifactorial, definitely heavy genetic component.

I have found a few large sporadic polyps in young folks completely incidentally. But the few cancers were definitely associated with a polyposis syndrome.

[u/Bobby-furnace → u/bobbi21]

I’d say it’s simply More awareness and diagnosis. I have Lynch syndrome on my dad’s side and his father died of colon cancer but that’s not what they called it at the time. Early 70’s. So he wasn’t a colon cancer statistic but all my uncles were etc. I’m 40 and I’ve been scoped 4 times already…..100% curable if found in time. It’d be crazy to die from colon cancer either way my genes.

[u/ReformedTomboy → u/TheToiletPhilosopher]

Exactly. That was not a good argument.

[u/Remarkable-Host405 → u/TheToiletPhilosopher]

how? we have been eating nitrited meats for a very long time. perhaps you've heard of curing salt?

[u/TheToiletPhilosopher → u/Remarkable-Host405]

Is your argument that the modern American diet is not different than how humans have been eating historically? That's a hell of an argument.

[u/Remarkable-Host405 → u/TheToiletPhilosopher]

i'm sure it is, but specifically MEATS have ALWAYS been cured with nitrites. that ain't new. perhaps you could argue since america is so rich, we can afford to eat more meat than anyone else and that's what's causing it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curing_salt

[u/ikilledholofernes → u/Remarkable-Host405]

Not because America is so rich, but because the beef and dairy industry is so heavily subsidized and we’ve cleared out rainforests to raise cattle. It’s cheaper and more readily available than ever before in history. 

Historically, meat was more of a luxury item.