Why It’s Vitally Important to Have a Healthy Colon

Did you know that more than 70 million Americans currently struggle with digestive issues? Unfortunately many of these people do not realize that their struggles are occuring because their colon is unhealthy.

Too many people suffer from constipation, bloating, diarrhea, fatigue, gas, undigested food, and even mucous in their stools. These are all signs that the digestive system is not functioning properly. To have a healthy colon is crucial in order to have good overal health. So many challenges in your body can actually stem from the state of health in your gut.

What and Where is the Colon?

The colon is your large intestine and is located at the end of your digestive system. It is about five feet long and is the last place food ends up after passing through your digestive system once it is broken down and digested. If your digestive system is not operating efficiently then this is when problems can occur.

Your colon is both a powerful storage and waste disposal site in your body. Through involuntary muscle contractions digested food is pushed through the colon and this is where your food waste gets stored until it’s time to be excreted through the rectum.

The colon is where fluid gets absorbed from indigestible food residue and it is home to a large number of commensal or “good” bacteria. These good bacteria can offer many benefits for the body.

Signs of an Unhealthy Colon

The colon is a crucial piece of your digestive system and there are several symptoms that can indicate an unhealthy colon and that cause it to work improperly. When unhealthy pathogens thrive in the colon this can lead to inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease; diverticular disease; irritable bowel syndrome; and colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is one of the most serious colon diseases and is the third most common and third most deadliest cancer in the U.S. today.

Some symptoms of an unhealthy colon can include:

• Heartburn
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain and/or cramps
• Bloating and/or excessive gas
• Nausea
• Mucus in your stools
• Changes in bowel movements
• Rectal bleeding

Signs of a Healthy Colon

You may have heard that prevention is the best medicine, therefore you should take care of your colon before it causes you any distress. This way you can begin to take steps towards better health in general and hopefully avoid having colon cancer. In addition you may avoid the discomforts of bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, and gas.

The following list would indicate a healthy colon:

• Regular, daily bowel movements
• A transit time of 18 to 24 hours
• No mucous, partially digested food, or blood noticeable in your stools
• No difficulty passing stools
• Stools should be soft and well formed, a tubular shape is best
• Clear skin without blemishes
• Mild smelling breath

How to Keep Your Colon Healthy

Unfortunately we do not usually give our colon much thought until something goes awry, such as getting diarrhea, suffering from constipation or experiencing other digestive complaints. To improve the overall health of your body you must begin to improve the health of your colon.

Eating a high-fiber diet is good for overall intestinal and colon health. Diets high in vegetables, fruits and whole grains and low in red and processed meats have been associated with a decreased risk of colon cancer. I will mention here however that everyone’s body is different depending where they currently are with their digestive health and sometimes making dietary changes needs to be done with the help of a practitioner who has knowledge of working with this area.

Fiber aids colon health by helping to keep you regular and prevent constipation. Fiber keeps food waste moving along your digestive tract, which helps your intestines stay “clean” and can decrease your risk for developing hemorrhoids and small pouches in your colon that can lead to diverticular disease. Having regular bowel movements is one of the ways your colon keeps itself clean and healthy. But remember that some people need to start slow in this area if they are not accustomed to eating a lot of fibre in their diet, which is the case for over half of all Americans who may be eating the standard American diet.

Add in good probiotics, particularly through fermented foods in order to maintain those “good” bacteria. Again, for some people, probiotics may not be tolerated well in the beginning and these people may need to start with small amounts and gradually increase them as the body adapts.

Everyone will benefit by drinking plenty of water and other caffeine-free fluids. Inadequate hydration can lead to a buildup of toxins in the body and as those toxins accumulate, the risk for constipation, bloating, gas, IBS, and fatigue increases. If you’re trying to keep your colon healthy, do your best to drink 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water each day to keep things moving through your colon.

Drink caffeine and alcohol in moderation as these can both dehydrate and irritate the digestive system for some people. Do not smoke and get regular exercise which is of huge importance to help keep your colon healthy.  By increasing blood flow and circulation in your body through exercise, your colon (and entire gastrointestinal system) gets more oxygen. This may help ward off colon cancer and other diseases. Stretching, yoga or walking for 10-15 minutes a day is sufficient exercise to help keep your colon healthy.

The Importance of Keeping Your Colon Clean

The colon is home to billions of microflora or bacteria. These beneficial bacterial organisms living within the colon and digestive tract are important for your proper nutrient absorption, maintaining your pH balance, controlling your hunger and helping to balance your potentially dangerous “bad” bacteria. This is why a well-functioning colon is so important for your overall health.

Since an unhealthy colon can get clogged up, this can create a build up of toxins which are not good for the body. Doing seasonal cleanses can help to improve your health and well-being.

But are colon cleanses really necessary? Doesn’t our digestive system have its own processes for removing waste? Yes, it does but many people struggle with having regular, complete bowel movements. This can be due to various reasons like eating a poor diet, being dehydrated, having poor gut health, allergies, consumption of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, chemicals and having inflammation within their digestive system. In fact it is estimated that irritable bowel syndrome affects approximately 15 to 20 percent of the adult population worldwide, while chronic constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal problems in the world.

Those more prone to these digestive problems include people who eat a poor diet, women during pregnancy, seniors, people recovering from surgery and those who take medications. If you are not having at least one “regular” bowel movement every day, then this makes you a good candidate for a colon cleanse.

Many of today’s health problems all begin in the gut. These symptoms can include stomach pains, abdominal cramps, chronic fatigue, constipation, low energy, headaches and allergic reactions.

Having an impacted colon can easily cause sluggishness, irritation, irritability, low energy, “brain fog” and changes in your appetite. This is because unreleased food and waste particles in the colon can cause mucus and bacteria to ferment, rot and putrefy inside your colon. When the colon is impacted in this way, not only are nutrients not absorbed properly, but nasty toxins are created and these are often released back into the bloodstream where they create havoc with other body systems. 

Heal your gut; and heal your whole body!

The fall months are the perfect time to focus on two of your major organs of elimination, your lungs and your colon.

When you support these vital organs during the fall season, you can remove those toxins that may have built up during the summer months and can renew your immunity for the upcoming winter season.

Stay tuned for my next seasonal cleanse, “Love Your Immune System Fall Cleanse”, which is going to help you detoxify your colon and your lungs and help boost your immune system for those winter months!

Your Nourishing Nutritionist,

Lynne Bowsher

Nourishment for body, mind and spirit

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