CW Vol 2 Ed. 31 - Colon Cancer: Preventable. Detectable. Treatable.
Colon cancer is on the rise—especially in younger adults—but it’s also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. In this issue, we’re covering the signs to watch for, screening options that save lives, and everyday strategies to lower your risk. Whether you’re 28 or 58, now is the time to take charge of your colon health.
🔍 Know the Symptoms
Colon cancer often starts subtly, but some signs shouldn’t be ignored:
Persistent changes in bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea, or narrowing of stool)
Blood in or on your stool
Frequent gas, bloating, or abdominal pain
Unexplained fatigue or weight loss
A sense that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
If something feels off, trust your gut—talk to your doctor.
Colon Cancer Screening Options
Experts now recommend regular screening beginning at age 45, or earlier if you have risk factors such as family history or chronic digestive issues.
Your screening options include:
Cologuard® (At-home DNA test)
✔ Non-invasive, no prep.
✔ Recommended every 3 years.
✔ Great for average-risk individuals.
Colonoscopy
✔ Detects and removes polyps in one visit.
✔ Recommended every 10 years for low-risk patients.
Enrolled in our medical plan? Call Valenz Health at (877) 438-5479 to schedule your colonoscopy screening—at no cost to you. When you go through Valenz, even if polyps are found and removed during the procedure, you won’t receive a surprise bill. It’s all covered.
🌿 Preventing Colon Cancer from the Inside Out
Colon cancer often develops silently over time—but many of the root causes are within your control. Focus on prevention by supporting your body’s gut health, immune function, and detox pathways. Here’s how to take action:
Avoid Ultra-Processed Foods & Red Meats
Diets high in processed meats and low in whole foods are linked to increased colon cancer risk.
Limit bacon, hot dogs, and deli meats, and focus on lean, clean protein sources.
Check Your Vitamin D Levels
Low vitamin D has been associated with higher colorectal cancer risk. Functional medicine providers recommend maintaining levels between 50-80 ng/mL. Ask your doctor about testing and appropriate supplementation.
Manage Stress & Prioritize Sleep
Chronic stress and poor sleep harm gut health and immune regulation—both key to cancer prevention.
Practice mindfulness, get 7–9 hours of sleep, and aim for regular sleep-wake cycles.
🥦 Prioritize Fiber Every Day
Fiber feeds your gut bacteria and keeps digestion moving, reducing the time potential toxins spend in your colon.
Aim for 25–35g of fiber daily from vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, and whole grains. For reference, a cup of cooked broccoli contains about 5 grams of fiber and a medium apple has about 4.5 grams of fiber.
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage support liver detox pathways and help the body clear harmful compounds.
Exercise Regularly
Physical activity lowers inflammation, improves insulin sensitivity, and helps regulate digestion.
Just 30 minutes a day can reduce colon cancer risk by up to 50%.
🧫 Support a Healthy Microbiome
A diverse microbiome is protective. Add fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut.
Rotate your produce—different plant types feed different beneficial bacteria.
Learn More
For FAQs on the Cologuard at home test click here.
Curious about which foods are high in fiber? Click here.
View this newsletter here.
7/30/2025
CW Vol 2 Ed. 23 - The Sun, Your Skin & What They’re Not Telling You
“More sunscreen use has not resulted in fewer melanomas. In fact, melanoma rates have increased—because we're ignoring internal health and toxin exposure as major causes.”
— Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy, via Instagram (2025)
What If the Sun Isn’t the Enemy?
We’ve all heard it: “Avoid the sun. Wear sunscreen. Protect your skin.” But what if that advice misses the mark?
Doctors like Dr. Joseph Mercola and Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy argue that the rising rates of skin cancer may not be caused by sunlight alone—but by what we put on our skin, what we eat, and how our bodies are functioning internally.
Dr. Connealy reminds us that sunlight, in moderation, is essential for immune health, vitamin D production, mood, and hormone balance. And Dr. Mercola goes further: our diet—especially one high in seed oils—could be making us more prone to sun damage.
🛢️ Sunscreen: What’s In It—and What It’s Doing
Everything you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream. So let’s look closer at this cocktail of lab-made chemicals, most of which are derived from petrochemicals (refined from crude oil) or synthetic fragrance compounds.
Listed below are the most common offenders.
Ingredients to Be Cautious Of, Its Common Use and Why Experts Warn Against It
Oxybenzone: Chemical UV filter. Linked to hormone disruption; penetrates skin easily.
Octinoxate: UVB absorber. Hormone-disrupting effects and is toxic to marine life.
Homosalate: UVB filter. Allows other harmful chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin.
Avobenzone: UVA filter. Breaks down quickly in sunlight - often forming free radicals.
Fragrance / Parfum: A mix of secret chemicals (often including phthalates.) Can trigger allergies, disrupt hormones.
Parabens: Used as preservatives. Linked to estrogenic activity and possible cancer risk.
Did you know? Most chemical sunscreen ingredients were developed in the 1950s–1980s, before long-term safety testing on hormone disruption or environmental effects was required.
🥗 The SAD Truth About the Standard American Diet
The Standard American Diet (SAD) is high in sugar, refined carbs, seed oils, and ultra-processed food. According to Dr. Mercola, these oils—like soybean, corn, and canola—embed themselves in your skin's fatty tissues and make you more likely to burn when exposed to sunlight.
Dr. Connealy links poor diet with chronic inflammation, hormone imbalance, and weakened cellular defense—perfect conditions for cancer to grow.
How do you protect yourself from the inside out?
✅ Eat antioxidant-rich vegetables and berries.
✅ Replace seed oils with healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil, grass-fed butter.)
✅ Prioritize protein and fiber over sugar and starch.
✅ Support your liver’s detox pathways (e.g. leafy greens, dandelion, beets, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.)
Tips for Protecting Your Skin From the Sun:
Sunlight in moderation is good—don’t fear it, but don’t burn!
Opt for physical barriers such as hats, sunglasses, clothing.
When purchasing sunscreen, look for:
Micronized Zinc Oxide (at least 20%)
Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
Broad-Spectrum Protection against both
UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays
Fragrance Free
Free of Seed Oils (oils like sunflower, soybean or canola)
Improve your diet to reduce inflammation and protect your skin!
View this Newsletter and links to resources here!
Go to www.incidecoder.com to research ingredients!
6/4/2025