Not all doctors are convinced diet plays a role in cancer reduction even though the evidence keeps mounting. Recently a study published in JAMA Oncology confirmed that a diet high in fiber reduces the risk for colon cancer. Fiber present in food (or taken as a supplement) keeps the gastrointestinal system moving thus reducing constipation, improves feelings of satiety thus helping in weight management, reduces the risk of some forms of cancers, reduces blood sugar levels, and helps feed the trillions of beneficial microbes living in the gut and intestines (potentially helping the immune system). There are many forms of fiber, each with its own benefits. If you do not get enough fiber from your diet, consider supplementing either with flax seeds or chia seeds to your soups or smoothies, or you can take additional psyllium through powders or capsules. Many other types of fiber are available as supplements including beta-glucan, inulin, glucomannan, apple pectin, modified citrus pectin, and grapefruit pectin.
