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Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the third most common cancer globally, with more than 1.9 million new cases and more than 930,000 deaths globally in 2020, according to the World Health Organisation. It accounts for approximately 10% of all cancer cases and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

6 snacks you can include in your daily diet to protect yourself from colon cancer. (Freepik)

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Therefore, educating oneself about this cancer is a need of the hour, so that you can protect your colon and opt for a healthy lifestyle. In a November 8 Instagram post, Dr Joseph Salhab, a board-certified gastroenterologist and popular health influencer known as @thestomachdoc on social media, listed 6 snacks you can include in your daily diet to protect yourself from colon cancer.

6 snacks to fight colon cancer

Sharing the list of 6 snack combinations to fight colon cancer, Dr Salhab noted, “These foods had some of the strongest effects in lowering colon cancer risk.”

Additionally, he pointed out that these recommendations are science-backed, as some are included in a May 2023 meta-analysis: “Different types of fruit intake and colorectal cancer risk,” published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Here are the 6 snacks Dr Salhab recommended:

1. Watermelon with lime

The first snack the gastroenterologist suggested in the video is eating watermelon with lime. According to him, the combination contains lycopene and vitamin C, which helps reduce the risk of colon cancer.

2. Walnuts with yoghurt

Next, he suggested having a handful of walnuts with some yoghurt. It contains omega-3 and probiotics, which can be beneficial for your colon health.

3. Avocado with salsa

The gastroenterologist recommended having avocado with salsa. In the video, he can be seen enjoying this combination on a toasted slice of bread. According to him, avocados and salsa are rich in fibre and prebiotics, which help boost immune cells in the colon.

4. Blueberry and chia seeds

Dr Salhab suggested making a blueberry chia pudding with blueberries and chia seeds. They have anthocyanins and soluble fibre, which nourish protective bacteria present in the colon.

5. Apples and cinnamon

Take a few slices of apple and sprinkle them with cinnamon. This snack contains pectin fibre and polyphenols, which produce more butyrate for anti-inflammatory effects.

6. Kiwi with honey yoghurt

Lastly, Dr Salhab recommended having kiwi with some yoghurt drizzled with honey, as the fibre present in kiwi can repair DNA damage in the colon.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

EXCLUSIVE: Dark Sky Films is teaming up with sister company Watermelon Pictures on the acquisition of North American distribution rights to Mārama, the gothic horror feature from Māori writer-director Taratoa Stappard (Taumanu).

Set in Victorian England, 1859, Mārama is the story of a young Māori woman’s fight to reclaim her identity and indigenous culture. When she is mysteriously summoned from New Zealand to North Yorkshire, she uncovers her horrific colonial heritage and is compelled to confront and destroy the titled Englishman who devastated her family.

The film will have its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival on September 7^th as part of the festival’s Discovery Programme.

The movie features Māori actor Ariāna Osborne (Madam) in the lead role alongside British actors Toby Stephens (Black Sails) and Umi Myers (Bob Marley: One Love), as well as New Zealanders Erroll Shand (Savage) and Jordan Mooney (The Bluff).

The acquisition agreement, which encompasses all North American distribution rights, was negotiated by the Dark Sky Films acquisition team and producers Sharlene George and Rouzie Hassanova. The former is a veteran genre presence while newcomer Watermelon is known for releasing From Ground Zero and working on The Voice Of Hind Rajab.

The film will be released in North American theaters in the first quarter of 2026. International sales at TIFF are being handled by Franziska McCray. Dark Sky and Watermelon are both owned by MPI Media Group.

Pic is produced by Sharlene George (Taumanu), CEO and Founding Partner of international production company The Sweetshop. The film’s other producers are Rickylee Russell-Waipuka (Taumanu), Rouzie Hassanova (Radiogram) with Paraone Gloyne as Pou Tiaki Reo & Tikanga (Māori Language & Culture Producer). Executive producers include Victoria Dabbs, Gal Greenspan for Sweetshop Entertainment, Jill Macnab and Phil Bremner for Vendetta Films.

The film was developed with support from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga/The New Zealand Film Commission, imagineNATIVE, The Black List, Toronto I.F.F., Zurich I.F.F., and the Berlinale Co-Production Market.

Badie Ali, co-CEO of Dark Sky Films and Watermelon Pictures commented: “Taratoa Stappard has crafted a visually stunning, emotionally resonant film that redefines what gothic horror can be. We’re proud to champion Indigenous storytelling and bring this powerful, culturally rooted work to North American audiences.”

“Mārama is an Indigenous-led production in every sense,” added producer Sharlene George. “It’s a film that not only challenges conventions, but also puts Indigenous voices and worldviews at the heart of its storytelling.”

Writer-director Taratoa Stappard said: “Mārama is the first of my planned trilogy of Māori gothic horror stories about colonising violence being met with Indigenous retribution. I can’t wait to share my film with the world.”

Watermelon

Gastroenterologist suggests 6 science-backed snacks that can fight colon cancer: ‘Watermelon with lime to…’