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March: Gardens and Gut Health
- Jan Harding, DNP, APRN-BC
- Mar 11
- 1 min read
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
March is also a great time to prepare your gardens and plant some gut-healthy vegetables.
We started off this year setting goals to keep us healthy. Gardening is great exercise, mentally relaxing and a healthy food source. If you are a new gardener, container gardening is a great place to start. Your local garden center, hardware store and the internet can be great resources for getting started.
Colorectal Health:
Colorectal cancer can develop silently without symptoms for years which is why screening is important. 45 years of age is the recommended starting age for screening. Talk with your provider about which screening is best for you.
There are two types of screening:
Colonoscopy: Allows doctors to view the entire colon and remove polyps; typically needed every 10 years when results are normal.
Stool-based tests: Noninvasive at-home option detects blood or DNA markers; repeated every 1-3 years.
Risks and symptoms:
Age is the strongest predictor of colorectal cancer, which is why screenings typically begin at age 45. Family history can also increase risk, as do lifestyle factors such as:
Diets high in red or processed meats
Low intake of fruits and vegetables
Smoking or alcohol use
Obesity
Key warning signs include:
Changes in bowel habits such as persistent diarrhea or constipation
Blood in your stool
Unexplained weight loss
Abdominal pain or bloating
Fatigue or weakness
Don’t let March pass by without considering your gut health.
Happy Gardening!
Jan
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