Polyps in the large intestine are common, and sometimes they progress into bowel cancer. Colorectal cancer is becoming increasingly common, particularly in people younger than 50. Fortunately there are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing polyps.

Polyps are common in people with a family history of polyps or bowel cancer. Not all polyps are harmful, but some have the potential to develop into cancer if not monitored. Polyps tend to occur in the large intestine, called the colon, and also the rectum. Do you know the symptoms of colon polyps and what you should do if you have them? The discovery of polyps in your intestine should be taken seriously, because if dealt with promptly, you may be able to avoid the development of more serious bowel conditions.

Polyps are a growth of tissue that develops on the large intestine. A polyp can be raised and look like a pea, or it can be flat. There can be just one polyp or multiple polyps. Most polyps are benign, but occasionally a polyp may develop into cancer.

There are 3 main types of colon polyps:

  1. Adenomas
  2. Hyperplastic, or inflammatory polyps
  3. Sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) and traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs)

Both adenomas and serrated adenomas have the highest risk of becoming cancerous. Inflammatory and hyperplastic polyps rarely become cancerous.

These factors raise the risk of developing polyps

  • Being overweight
  • Lack of physical exercise
  • Advancing age, particularly over the age of 50
  • History of constipation
  • Having a family member who has had bowel polyps or bowel cancer
  • Inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
  • Moderate to high alcohol intake. This is particularly a risk factor for developing polyps and bowel cancer before the age of 50
  • Diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrate
  • Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
  • Vitamin D and selenium deficiency

Symptoms of bowel polyps

In most cases there are no symptoms at all, or the symptoms are so mild that they are ignored. A lot of people put up with disturbed digestive function their whole lives, therefore don’t notice the subtle symptoms of bowel polyps. If there are symptoms, the most likely ones include:

  • A new episode of constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than 7 days. Of course they can be caused by numerous other conditions.
  • Rectal bleeding. If you notice blood on the toilet paper after having a bowel motion, you should see your doctor. It might just be due to hemorrhoids, but it could be something more serious.
  • Unusually dark colored stools. This can mean there is blood in the stool and you should see your doctor.

How are bowel polyps treated?

They will be removed and viewed under a microscope. This is necessary in order to determine if they are cancerous. People with a history of polyps need to have regular colonoscopies to check the colon and see if the polyps regrow. If you have had a bowel polyp, or a family member has had bowel polyps, it is vital to see your doctor regularly for a colonoscopy. If treated in the early stages, polyps are harmless and easily removed.

Natural ways to keep your colon healthy

Increase your vegetable intake. Vegetables are an excellent source of fiber that is not harsh and scratchy to the bowel wall. Many people do not tolerate grains or legumes well, yet vegetables are easy to digest and they provide valuable bulk to the stool. It is very important to keep your bowel moving each day. Ideally you would have between one and three bowel motions each day. The longer the waste is allowed to stay in contact with your bowel wall, the greater the risk that polyps will form.

Try to avoid constipation. You may need help from a gentle bulking laxative like Fibertone. The ingredients in Fibertone help to sweep the colon clean and they are not habit forming. This is good because it means Fibertone will not weaken your bowel like other laxatives can.

Irritable bowel syndrome is extremely common. It is thought to affect approximately one in five Americans, and may raise the risk of bowel polyps in the future. If your gut is chronically irritated it is important to find the cause. Perhaps you have a food sensitivity. Maybe you have an overgrowth of the wrong microbes living in your gut and not enough of the good bugs. It’s also possible you have a parasitic gut infection. Intestinal Parasite Cleanse capsules are wonderful for helping to clear bad bugs from the bowel, and they should be followed by a good quality probiotic like Floratone.

Magnesium relaxes the nerves and muscles of the bowel, making it easier to have regular bowel motions. It is very effective for people who get constipated when travelling, or while staying at someone else’s home or during stressful episodes.

Try to get some movement each day. Many of us have a job where we must sit all day and that is unavoidable. Try to go for a walk before or after work, and try to make your weekends active. The exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous; it just has to be regular.

 Try to drink between 8 and 10 glasses of water or herbal tea each day. That will have a cleansing effect on your bowel and soften your stool. You could put a tablespoon of chia seeds into a glass of water and leave it to thicken for half an hour. Chia seeds are soothing to the bowel wall and they help to keep you feeling full and less likely to snack. Gut Health powder contains ground chia seeds plus other ingredients designed to heal and soothe the intestinal lining.

Don’t be vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D deficiency is incredibly common so it’s best to see your doctor for a blood test. If you do not have time to get outside in the sunshine regularly, or you live in an area that doesn’t receive much sun, you may need a vitamin D supplement.

 Insulin resistance raises the risk of bowel polyps plus other lumps and bumps on the body. Insulin is a growth promoting hormone. It encourages more rapid growth of polyps, and also tumors. Having elevated blood insulin is also known as metabolic syndrome, syndrome X and pre-diabetes. The best way to lower insulin is to follow the low carbohydrate eating plan in my book I Can’t Lose Weight and I Don’t Know Why. The herbs bitter melon and gymnema, along with the nutrients chromium and lipoic acid also help to lower insulin, and they are found in Glicemic Balance capsules.

If you are concerned about the health of your digestive tract, please see your doctor. For more information about bowel conditions and digestive problems see my book called Heal Yout Gut: An A-Z Guide.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.