What does a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in the gut and digestive system, eat on the regular?
With colorectal cancer being one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and the number of cases among people under 50 increasing, USA TODAY asked award-winning gastroenterologist Dr. Arun Swaminath to break things down.
According to the ACS Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 report, around 55% of colorectal cancers might be able to be traced to a few potential risk factors, such as lack of exercise, excessive smoking and alcohol consumption, excess body weight and diet − including eating lots of red and processed meats, and not consuming enough calcium, whole grains and fiber.
While too much red meat is associated with adverse health outcomes, it now sits on top of the newly-flipped food pyramid, which can make guidance confusing for Americans.
Swaminath, the chief of gastroenterology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, points out people aren't cooking at home as much. "(Our food is) prepared, packaged. It's got preservatives, it's got emulsifiers, and there is excellent data on how these molecules affect the barrier between the gut and the immune system," he said.
