June is Men's Health Month, and on this month's episode of Hadassah On Call, we're talking with Dr. David Hakimian, a senior gastroenterologist at the Hadassah Medical Organization who specializes in clinical nutrition and bowel diseases. He says that your bowel movements can indicate serious health issues. Therefore, a big part of the role of gastroenterologists is to assess changes in bowel movements, such as changes in color and consistency, to detect potential health issues. According to Dr. Hakimian, persistent changes should be referred to a physician for proper evaluation.

Dr. Hakimian also discusses the role of diet in more severe gut issues, including colon cancer. He says that obesity and an unhealthy diet in the United States may contribute to early colon cancer, while in Israel, a healthier Mediterranean diet may delay its onset. The doctor recommends eating whole foods to improve gut health and reduce symptoms.

“Eat fresh food. Eat healthy food. Do not eat processed food,” says Dr. Hakimian.

He also notes that new personalized and precision medicine methods are being used to target cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissue.

When it comes to new research, Dr. Hakimian says his team is working on investigating the potential transfer of inflammatory bowel disease from mothers to infants through the microbiome. That research may only be ready in a few years. However, the doctor says that if it is discovered that inflammatory bowel disease is physically transferred during birth, there may be ways to stop it.

Are men or women more inclined to discuss their gut health with their doctors? When it comes to gas, diarrhea, bloating and other uncomfortable GI issues, the doctor admits that men are much more comfortable opening up about them.

Further learning:

• Read and watch our previous episode covering other diseases that impact the colon and more: Gut-Wrenching: Crohn's, Colitis and More
• From Cancer to Crohn, Israel Pushes Precision Medicine to the Next Level
• Teens From All Ethnicities Share Stories of Living With Crohn's Disease at Hadassah Gathering
• Hadassah Cancer Specialists Explore Link Between Colorectal Cancer and BRCA Mutations
• Hadassah and Harvard Collaborate on Link Between Mouth Bacteria and Colon Cancer