Dear Reader:
I am Dr. Monique May, Board-certified Family Physician and Founder of Physician in the Kitchen™. Through my meal delivery service and best-selling book, MealMasters: Your Simple Guide to Modern Day Meal Planning, I help busy households enjoy healthy eating without impacting their hectic schedules. By now, I’m sure you have heard the news of the untimely passing on August 28th of acclaimed actor Chadwick Boseman, who was the very embodiment of the Black Panther. His loss at the age of 43 from colon cancer is tragic on so many levels, and it is with a heavy and unbelieving heart that I write this. Shockingly, he was diagnosed 4 years ago at age 39 with Stage III colon cancer, meaning that it had spread beyond the colon and into the lymph nodes. His private battle for the past 4 years is even more remarkable now that we know what he was dealing with while filming such high-action films like Black Panther and other Marvel movies.
Colon cancer is the third deadliest cancer in the United States, behind lung and prostate cancer for men and lung and breast cancer for women. While the rates of colon cancer are decreasing for people over age 65, they are unfortunately increasing for those under the age of 50. The reason for the decrease in the older population is likely due to increased screening such as colonoscopies starting at age 50 (a scope that the doctor places inside your intestines to look for polyps, which are small growths that can become cancerous over time) and stool testing. However, the reason for the increase in those under 50 is not fully understood. Diet, genetics, obesity, inflammatory conditions (such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) can all play a role in the increased rates in these patients.
According to the American Cancer Society, diets high in red meat and processed meats such as hot dogs, bacon, and lunch meats increase the risk for colon cancer. On the other hand, diets that feature plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains are protective due to their high content of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
#MeatlessMonday and #TryitTuesday are great ways to swap out meat and try new foods (especially those found in the produce aisle). Substitute red meat with mushrooms (grilled portobello mushrooms make GREAT “burgers”!), eggplants, or tofu, and beans are an economical way to add texture and substance to salads and soups. Click here for my take on a super salad that is so chock full of flavor, texture, and fiber that you won’t even miss the meat! If you are new to tofu, try my Jerk Tofu with Lime Balsamic Glaze and you will have to remind yourself you are not eating chicken. For more meat-sparing ideas, join me Wednesdays at 7 pm in my online cooking class at docfixmyplate.com.
See You In The Kitchen!
For more information, be sure to visit me at DrMoniqueMay.com, and join the #MealMastersCommunity at www.Facebook.com/groups/mealmasters today.
