Colon cancer is on the increase, and as a result more and more people are turning to colon cleanse supplements and products in an attempt to protect their colon health and ward of this killer disease. But aren’t there other options available to us that will help protect us against this type of cancer – like a health colon diet or even a colon detox every once in a while?

Scientists now believe that calcium can help protect against colon cancer, as it’s Mother Nature’s own colon cleanse ingredient.

Generally, any vitamin or mineral that’s good for fighting one kind of cancer is good for all kinds. Occasionally, however, one nutrient earns star status for its ability to prevent just one form of cancer.

Such is the case with calcium. This mineral seems to be emerging as something of a hero in the fight against colon cancer. That’s because population studies suggest that people who gee lots of calcium-rich foods in their diets are less likely than normal to develop colon cancer.

Calcium may thwart colon cancer by binding with cancer-promoting fats and bile acids, the digestive fluid secreted by the liver. This neutralizes their toxic effects and causes them to be excreted without harming intestinal cells.

These effects seem to be strongest in people at highest risk for colon cancer, those eating high-fat diets. People who eat low-fat diets, whose risk may already be low, don’t benefit as much from additional calcium.

Several studies of people at high risk for colon cancer, such as those with a prior history of polyps, benign growths that can lead to cancer, also suggest that calcium may help reduce the possibility of abnormal growth in the cells lining the colon.

Don’t count on miracles, however. The effects are fairly modest and occur only at amounts well above normal intake. Most studies used 1,250 milligrams a day, while the average daily intake of calcium is less than 800 milligrams. The Daily Value for calcium is 1,000 milligrams.

The healthy approach is eating a diet low in fat, high in fiber and loaded with fruits and vegetables. Then if you like, you can add enough calcium-rich foods (and supplements, if necessary) to push you over the 1,000-milligram mark. It’s also a good idea to avoid any tobacco and excessive alcohol.

Incidentally, fortified foods such as soy milk may provide additional protection. Fat-soluble vitamin D, best known for helping to escort calcium into the bloodstream, may also play a role in protecting cells from cancer-inducing genetic damage.