When To Get a Colonoscopy

Screening for colon polyps can detect colon cancer in its early stages. Yet, do you know when to get a colonoscopy? 

Let’s face it — when it comes to colonoscopies, most people feel a mix of anxiety and dread. Maybe you’ve heard some jokes or horror stories. I’ve had a colonoscopy, and I’m here to tell you there is nothing to worry about! It’s not as bad as you think. 

You’re not awake during the procedure and don’t feel anything. Yet, many people avoid getting a colonoscopy. Unfortunately, one in three adults between the ages of 50 and 75 have never had a colonoscopy. (1)

Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Colon cancer is preventable. Screening for colon polyps with a colonoscopy can detect cancer in its early stages. 

In this article, you’ll learn about colon polyps, why we develop them, and functional medicine’s approach to preventing them. First, let’s discuss colonoscopy age recommendations. 

When Should You Get a Colonoscopy?

Regular screenings for colon polyps allow doctors to find them before they turn into cancer. Colonoscopies can also detect Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 

Before, colonoscopy age recommendations were for those aged  50 to 75. The American Cancer Society recently lowered the colonoscopy age to 45. This was due to the increased rates of colon cancer among people younger than 50. (2)

These are the recommendations for when to get a colonoscopy if you have an average risk of developing colon cancer or have no family history: 

• Start regular screenings at age 45

• If you are in good health, you should have routine screenings every ten years until age 75. 
• People between 76 and 85 should talk to their doctor about whether to get screened or not. 
• If you are over 85, you no longer need screening. 

If you are at a higher risk, the ACS recommends that screenings start before age 45. You may also need screenings more often and more in-depth testing. 

Anyone with a family or personal history of colon cancer or with a history of IBD or Crohn’s disease is considered high risk. You should talk to your doctor to discuss when to get a colonoscopy if you are at high risk. 

 

Colonoscopy Prep

As I prepared for my first routine colonoscopy, everyone told me the same thing: the preparation is the most difficult part. And it was true! The procedure itself is a breeze since you’re asleep for it. 

The main goal of the preparation is to empty the contents of your bowels. This makes it easier for the doctor to see the polyps.

Here are the general steps you’ll take before the procedure:

1. Three days before, eat only low-fiber foods.
2. Two days before, continue eating only low-fiber foods.
3. One day before, go on a clear liquid diet.
4. The evening before, drink a prescription laxative drink to clean out your colon for the procedure. This is the part that most people find unpleasant. It’s a LOT of liquid to ingest in a short amount of time that doesn’t taste fantastic…but it gets the job done!

For my colonoscopy experience, I began by eating a low-fiber diet a few days before. This meant I couldn’t eat whole grains, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or raw fruits and vegetables.

The day before my colonoscopy, I was on a liquid diet of Bone Broth Collagen, Roar Peach Water, and Flow Alkaline Spring Water. I added Collagen Protein to these liquids. Collagen helps rebuild your gut lining and supports the digestion process. I recommend supplementing with Collagen Protein if you’re preparing for a colonoscopy.  

My doctor prescribed me the Suprep® Bowel Prep Kit for the evening before the procedure. 

Now that you know when to get a colonoscopy, the recommended colonoscopy age, and how to prepare, let’s discuss what they look for: colon polyps. 

What are Colon Polyps?

A colon polyp is a small clump of cells that can form in the lining of the colon. Most of these polyps are harmless and can go away on their own. However, some polyps turn into colon cancer.

There are two types of polyps: non-neoplastic polyps and neoplastic polyps. Neoplastic polyps are more likely to become cancerous. Non-neoplastic polyps are not likely to become cancerous. The three types of non-neoplastic polyps are: (3)

• Inflammatory Polyps 

Hyperplastic polyps 

Hamartomatous polyps 

Inflammatory polyps often occur in people with inflammatory bowel disease. Hyperplastic polyps develop where the body has repaired damaged tissue. 

As I mentioned, they can be removed safely and completely if caught early. But what exactly causes these colon polyps? Let’s talk about it. 

What Causes Colon Polyps?

Certain factors can increase your risk of developing colon polyps. You can control some risk factors, such as diet and exercise. Others can’t be controlled. (4)

Aging — The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) says that being over age 50 is the greatest risk factor for developing colon polyps.

Family history of polyps or colon cancer — This is especially true if you have a parent or sibling with a history of polyps or colon cancer.

Your medical history — People with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are at higher risk for polyps. 

Your diet — Fatty, highly processed foods and processed meat such as deli meats, hot dogs, bacon, and sausage can make your gut a friendly place for polyps to develop.

Lifestyle choices — Cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol increase your risk. 

Being overweight — Studies link obesity with the development of colon polyps.

It’s clear that we don’t want these colon polyps. But how do we avoid developing them in the first place? Read on to learn more.

How to Make an Uninhabitable Environment for Polyps

In functional medicine, we want to find the root cause of colon polyps’ development. It starts inside your gut. 

A healthy gut microbiome needs a balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria. When the “bad” bacteria outnumber the “good” bacteria, it can lead to gut issues. One common cause of these issues is a leaky gut. 

A leaky gut spreads bacteria and toxins into your body. This negatively affects your immune system and causes various health problems, such as:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Ulcerative colitis

Chrohn’s disease

The first step to preventing colon polyps is to heal your gut by providing the nutrients it needs. 

Leaky Gut Revive® supports a healthy gut microbiome by preventing and healing leaky gut. It offers an excellent source of L-glutamine to nourish your gut cells. Leaky Gut Revive® is my best tool for repairing a leaky gut. 

The next step is to create an uninhabitable environment for polyps.

Once your gut is healed, you need to maintain a balanced microbiome. To achieve this, you need a balance of probiotics and prebiotics. 

Probiotics are live bacteria found in certain foods and supplements. You can find them in fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut. They also naturally exist in your body's microbiome. (5)

Prebiotics are high-fiber foods that serve as “food” for probiotics. You can get them by eating things like bananas, greens, onions, garlic, and artichokes.  

To help balance the bacteria in your gut, you need a postbiotic called butyrate. Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that controls inflammation. It provides energy to the cells that make up your gut lining and balances your gut microbiome. It’s naturally produced when probiotics feed off prebiotics — and it’s super important! (6)

Read on to learn how to support your body’s butyrate levels. 

Butyrate Supplement 

A high-fiber diet is one way to support your body’s butyrate levels. But we all know it can be difficult to get enough fiber in our diets. 

Butyrate forms when prebiotics feed probiotics. So, combining a probiotic and a prebiotic would make sense. That’s why I created Prebiotic Fiber Complete™.

It includes multiple types of fiber and specific prebiotics to help you achieve optimal digestive health, including Fibriss™ and Inulin. I also included Fibregum™ to feed the many beneficial strains of bacteria in your digestive tract. This can improve digestion and strengthen your body’s natural immune response. Prebiotic Fiber Complete™ is a physician-formulated fiber blend. It gives the good bacteria in your gut the strength needed to fight off the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. 

Adding a prebiotic to a daily probiotic gives your gut a strong army for optimal digestive health! Let me give you some advice on how to choose a good probiotic. 

How to Choose a Probiotic

Probiotic supplements are sold in different strengths called CFUs (colony-forming units). The CFUs tell you how many bacteria are within that particular probiotic. When searching for the best probiotic, consider the number of CFUs. 

Probiotic Capsules 100 Billion is designed for maximum support. You won’t see very many products on your local store shelves that have this potency level AND don’t need refrigeration. Probiotic Capsules 30 Billion is for those who can’t tolerate a high level of probiotics but still want an excellent maintenance dose.

If you suffer from SIBO — an overgrowth of bacteria in the small bowel — this probiotic may not be right for you. It contains lactic acid-based bacteria. This could add more fuel to your intestinal fire — you don’t want that! This is why I recommend Primal Earth Probiotic to anyone with SIBO or who doesn’t tolerate most probiotics.

The Final Word on When to Get a Colonoscopy

Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Getting a colonoscopy is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your health. You may be eligible for one now that the colonoscopy age recommendation has been lowered from 50 to 45. 

It’s critical to schedule your procedure sooner rather than later. Early detection can catch polyps before they develop into cancer. Talk to your functional medicine doctor about when to get a colonoscopy. 

In addition to regular screenings, you can take charge of your health by creating an unfriendly environment for polyps to grow. You can do this by balancing your gut microbiome. Consuming the right nutrients empowers you to actively support long-term colon health. You’ve got this!

Now that you have this knowledge and the life-saving tool of a colonoscopy, you have everything you need to stay ahead of colon cancer. Don’t let fear hold you back! Contact your doctor to find out when to get a colonoscopy.