Top Ways to Maintain a Healthy Colon

Keeping your colon healthy is one way to prevent diseases and live a good life. If you want to keep health problems at bay and need a little piece of advice, consider the following tips:

Drink lots of water. Drinking water is good for many things, but did you know it also works wonders for your digestive system? In fact, not drinking enough water can lead to constipation, bloating, possible IBS, and a buildup of toxins. Not to mention, when your body feels dehydrated it slows you down. So make sure you’re drinking an adequate amount of fluids each day to cleanse your body and keep toxins out of your colon.

Add fiber to your diet. Eat your way to a healthy lifestyle by slowly introducing fiber into your diet. You may not realize it, but you’re probably already eating fiber-rich foods already. Fruits such as bananas, raspberries, prunes, as well as certain vegetables and whole-wheat cereals are all beneficial for your colon. Just be sure not to eat too much fiber too quickly, as this can have a reverse effect on your body.

Listen to your body. Don’t make it a habit of holding it in. Regular bowel movements is the most natural way to cleanse your colon and keep it healthy. On the other side of that, holding in a bowel movement can put pressure on your insides and potentially lead to diverticulosis and IBS.

Make time for exercise. Increasing your blood circulation through means of exercise is one of the most ideal ways of making sure your colon gets the oxygen it needs to function properly. Even if you’ve checked the above three tips off your list, it’s also important to take preventative measures by exercising. You’d be surprised how much working out just 10 to 15 minutes a day can help you maintain a healthy colon.

Adopting a few lifestyle tips can help significantly lower your risk of developing colon cancer or other complications, so keep track of the foods you’re eating and listen to what your body is telling you.

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, our doctors are trained to treat colon disorders with laparoscopic or open techniques. If you or someone you know suspects that they may need colorectal surgery, our surgeons can help.

For more information call 631-321-6801 and schedule your consultation today.

Eat Your Way to Healthy Skin

Research has shown that skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among people of all ages. Though we all know how important it is to cover up and use sunscreen when heading to the beach or sitting out in the sun, there are also a ton of alternative dietary methods to keep your skin protected. Want to eat your way to healthy, and happy skin? Incorporating these five foods into your daily meals can help your body stay protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

1. Citrus Fruits: According to a study performed by the University of Arizona, the limonene found in lemons, limes, oranges and other citrus fruits helps to lower the risk of skin cancer by a resounding 34%.

2. Green Tea: Beneficial to your body in more ways than one, a cup of green tea is full of helpful antioxidants called EGCGs. Focusing on these EGCGs, a study at the University of Wisconsin showed that drinking green tea helps minimize damage to skin cells after exposure to UV rays.

3. Carrots: Like other red, yellow and orange fruits and veggies, carrots contain a high concentration of carotenoids that have been proven to reduce the damaging effects of sunburn.

4. Spinach: The healthy antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin are found in spinach and other leafy greens. Animal studies have discovered that these antioxidants help to prevent irregular cell growth that can be caused by exposure to UV rays.

5. Salmon: Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is a great healthy alternative that helps keep skin damage-free. Studies show that fish oils, like those found in salmon, are beneficial when it comes to protecting skin from sunburn and preventing cancerous cell growth.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so make sure you treat and protect it with care!

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, our doctors are trained to treat melanoma and other skin cancers with sentinel node techniques. If you or someone you know suspects that they may need skin surgery, or have already been diagnosed with melanoma, our surgeons can help.

For more information call 631-321-6801 and schedule your consultation today.

Tips for Dealing with a Hemorrhoid Flare-Up

Hemorrhoids; everyone’s worst nightmare. With little warning, these swollen veins around the anus can cause extensive pain, bleeding and discomfort to an unsuspecting victim. If you suffer from hemorrhoids, know that there are some self-help steps that you can take to ease the pain and make bowel movements more bearable.

Increase your fiber intake. A fiber-rich diet can make all the difference. Try to eat foods that are high in fiber, like whole grains, or incorporate dietary fiber supplements into your daily routine.

Have some mineral oil. When mixed with your morning yogurt or afternoon applesauce, a tablespoon of mineral oil can help to lubricate your stool, allowing it slide past hemorrhoids more easily.

Don’t fight the feeling. The number one cause of straining is holding in a bowel movement. Whenever you feel the urge to go, go!

Elevate your feet. Resting your feet on a step-stool while on the toilet can help open the rectal passage, allowing bowels to move more freely.

Try some over-the-counter remedies. There are a ton of remedies out there, from soothing creams to witch hazel infused pads. Test some out to see what works best for you.

Take a dip in a sitz. Purchase a basin that fits right under the toilet seat and soak the inflamed area 2-to-3 times a day in warm water for 10-15 minute intervals.

Though there are many home remedies to help ease the discomfort that hemorrhoids create, the only true way to rectify a severe hemorrhoid issue is with surgery.

Luckily, the expert surgeons at Great South Bay Surgical Associate are trained and skillful in all aspects of open and minimally invasive hemorrhoid removal procedures. From laser treatment and sclerotherapy, to rubber band ligation, our team is guaranteed to handle your surgery with precision and care.

To learn more about our hemorrhoid removal procedures, click here or call 631-321-6801.

The Best Cancer-Fighting Superfoods

Though researchers are still searching high and low for a cure and definitive cause for cancer, studies have been able to nail down a few great preventatives that may already be right in your fridge. That’s right! We’re talking about cancer-fighting fruits and vegetables. Experts agree that a daily dose of five-to-nine servings of fruits and veggies do the body good, especially when you incorporate these six foods into your meals:

Broccoli - In comparison to other cruciferous vegetables, like cauliflower, cabbage and kale, broccoli is the leader in sulforaphane content. That means it has the most cancer-kicking power, boosting protective enzymes and working to eliminate harmful chemicals from the body. When it comes to broccoli more is better, so incorporate this green treat any time you can.

Blackberries - A high concentration of phytochemicals called anthocyanins make blackberries a sweet treat and the perfect cancer preventative. These powerful phytochemicals work to slow the growth of tumors and prevent them from becoming malignant. So, snacking on a half-cup of blackberries can really make a difference.

Tomatoes - Sweet, juicy and full of lycopene! Tomatoes and their high concentration of lycopene can help you put a wall up against endometrial cancer, a disease that kills nearly 8,000 people each year. Cooking tomatoes enhances the effect that lycopene has on your body, so get that pasta sauce up on the stove!

Walnuts - Kick breast cancer’s butt with an ounce of walnuts a day. These simple snacks contain phytosterols that work to block the growth of breast cancer cells.

Garlic - ..Not just for vampires! While you’re cooking up some lycopene (aka: tomato sauce) chop up a clove of garlic and add it to the mix. The phytochemicals in garlic act as a deterrent for the formation of nitrosamines in the stomach that can potentially cause colon cancer.

Beans - Black and navy beans have been proven to prevent the development of colon and breast cancer. Consuming a half-cup of legumes a week can help increase your body's levels of butyrate, a fatty acid that works to prevent cancer growth.

Sticking to a healthy diet can help significantly lower your risk of developing cancer, so get to the supermarket and fill up on your favorite cancer-fighting snacks.

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we pride ourselves in the multitude of services and procedures that we offer to our patients in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Comprised of eight leading doctors in the surgical field, our team is committed to providing exceptional services by using state of the art technologies while upholding our traditional values of caring and quality.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, click here to view our website or call 631-321-6801 today.