Dr Joseph Mancusi: Choose health, life, choose love.

“You don’t eat enough fiber,” she told me.

“How do you know? You just met me five minutes ago,” I said.

“Nobody eats enough fiber,” she said.

“I do. How much do I need?” I said.

She looked at me sternly. “I would be happy with 25 to 35 grams a day. I bet you do not eat that much. If I bet all my patients, I would be a multi-millionaire”.

“What difference does fiber make?” I asked her.

“Are you kidding me? If everyone ate enough fiber there would be less stomach and bowel cancer, less abdominal surgery, less intestinal polyps that turn into cancer, fewer hemorrhoids, less obesity, and diabetes. People are constipated because of not getting enough fiber. Fat people never eat enough fiber.” She stared at my chubby belly. “Is that good enough for you?”

“Yes, Doctor.” I dropped my eyes and stared at the floor. I felt like a little boy who was being balled out by the smartest teacher in the school.

As soon as I got home I checked everything I ate. I am a salad, eat good food, do it right kind of guy. I was sure I ate enough fiber.

I checked carefully. Breakfast. Cantaloupe. Toast. Corn Flakes. Milk. Tea. Total 3 grams.

Lunch. Lean hamburger in a bun. Lettuce Salad. Tomato. Celery. Green pepper. Total 6 grams. Not looking good.

Dinner. Broiled Chicken. 1 slice bread. White rice. Asparagus. Green beans. Total 6 grams

Miscellaneous. Total 0 grams.

My total for the day: 15 grams of fiber. I was a failure. I got an “F” in fiberology. I checked the next day. I did not eat enough fiber; I ate too much “white” food, too much meat and too many sweets. I was headed for cancer, diabetes and a heart attack.

I decided to change. Instead of white bread I now substitute dark high fiber German bread with no wheat. (9 gr fiber). High fiber cereal (11 gr). Lentil, pinto or kidney beans (7 gr of fiber); that alone added 27 gr fiber. Dropping corn flakes, a hamburger bun, white bread, and white rice subtracts 5 gr of fiber. Total for the day 37 grams. Hooray, an A plus.

After I went back for the results of my colonoscopy, I told the doctor the changes I had made in my eating. “Great!” she said. “Stick to it. With your family history of stomach and gut cancer and obesity, you will be healthier. You look thinner, too. Have you lost weight?”

“Yes, Mam,” I told her. “Great.” She said. “I told you the polyp I took out was not cancer. I will see you in 3 years to check again. We will get them all out, if possible. Patients like you are the reason I still practice medicine.”

I almost skipped out of her office. All it took was more fiber. I check fiber everyday. Getting an “A” in the proctology class was easy. Choose health, choose life, and choose love.

http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/031009/page7 Article warns of dangers of “Colon Cleansing”.

http://www.vicc.org/coloncancer/ reports on advantages of fiber.

http://www.wehealnewyork.org/healthinfo/dietaryfiber/fibercontentchart.html List of fiber in food.

Actions Items

1. Get regular colorectal cancer screenings beginning at age 50, or earlier.

2. Eat 25-30 grams of fiber each day from fruits, vegetables, whole grain bread and cereals, nuts and beans.

3. Eat a low-fat diet.

4. Eat foods with folate such as leafy green vegetables

5. Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all, and don’t use tobacco.

6. Exercise at least 20 minutes, 3-4 days a week.

Source: American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

Dr. Mancusi is an inspirational speaker and psychologist. drmancusi@yahoo.com www.mancusi.net ©2009