How To Have A Healthy Colon For Life

Have you ever just stopped for a moment to think about what your colon actually does?

This is usually just a topic discussed in biology class. Once the class is over, do we ever really think about colon health again?

We do if there is a problem with our colon, but otherwise, it’s something we don’t think about or discuss regularly.

We continue to eat unhealthy foods mainly out of convenience.

After a long day at work, the last thing most of us want to do is go home and prepare a meal for our family. Isn’t easy just to grab a pizza, chicken, or burger?

If we do go home and prepare something, it’s usually straight out of the freezer to the oven. Some frozen processed food may be no better than the fast foods we passed on.

We all eat things that are really not good for us, I know I enjoy a good burger or pizza sometimes.

We can limit the amount of fast food or processed foods we eat, but that is only part of what we need to do. What do we need to do so we are not weighed down by all this stuff we stick into our bodies?

Colon health can go a long way in helping keep our bodies working efficiently. Taking care of our colon can lead to a healthier and happy life.

What I want to discuss are some basic principles about our colon such as what the colon does, common problems with our colon, and how we can keep our colon healthy.

What Does Our Colon Do

The colon is the lower part of our gastrointestinal (GI) tract that stretches between the small intestines and rectum.

This is also known as the large intestines and can be divided into several parts, but I don’t want to bore you with a biology lesson here. For the sake of our discussion, let’s just refer to all several parts as the colon.

After material passes through the small intestines, the leftovers enter the colon. This is mostly a liquid mix where the colon’s job is to pull the water and nutrients that will be used by our body.

The process is aided by the bacteria that live in our colon. Without these bacteria, things can get backed up very quickly and cause all kinds of problems.

Once the bacteria break down what they can, then the rest simply continue down the path and will end up in the rectum and eventually be discarded from our bodies.

What are Some Common Problems With Our Colon

As long as the colon is working properly, there will be few problems. But what are some problems that can occur in our colon?

• Hemorrhoids – these are very common and are a group of swollen veins that can cause bleeding and itching.
• Anal Fissures – this is a common problem and is a painful tear in the anus that causes bleeding.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – can cause abdominal cramping, bloating, and changes in bowel movements such as constipation or diarrhea.
• Ulcerative colitis – ulcers that are found in the colon
• Diverticulitis – inflammation or infection in the colon

• Colorectal cancer – this is more common for those over 50 or anyone who has a family history of colon cancer
• Colonic polyps – these are growths found in the colon that can become cancerous. Just because there are growths, does not automatically mean you have cancer. There could be other reasons and your doctor may need to have additional tests done.

With all those problems what can we do to keep our colons healthy?

The best place to start when it comes to colon health is to pay more attention to what we put into our bodies.

If we continue to eat unhealthy processed foods in large quantities, then it is a matter of time before we have problems.

We all enjoy certain foods that may not be good for us, but if we can limit the amount we eat, that will be a big first step in helping our colons stay healthy.

When eating high-fiber foods, is an easy way to promote colon health. The fiber will help keep the waste moving through our colon to the rectum, and from there it will be discarded from our body.

Here are some high-fiber foods that will promote good colon health:

Food	Serving size	Total fiber (grams)
Split peas, boiled	1 cup	16.3
Lentils, boiled	1 cup	15.6
Black beans, boiled	1 cup	15
Lima beans, boiled	1 cup	13.2
Baked beans, vegetarian, canned, cooked	1 cup	10.4
Artichoke, boiled	1 medium	10.3
Green peas, boiled	1 cup	8.8
Raspberries	1 cup	8
Spaghetti, whole wheat, cooked	1 cup	6.3
Barley, pearled, cooked	1 cup	6
Bran flakes	3/4 cup	5.5

What else can we do to promote a healthy colon?

Other things can help us have a healthy colon:

• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. This will help keep our digestive system flowing normally and keep our body hydrated.
• Eating a balanced diet. This will help provide the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that our body needs.
• Take supplements that promote colon health like a probiotic.
• It is also helpful to periodically cleanse our colon and flush out any built-up materials or unwanted toxins.

Final Thoughts

As we can see, the colon does play an important part in keeping us healthy. We have seen some common problems that can plague our colon and what we can do to help keep our colon working properly.

Today keeping our colon working properly is not always easy, but we must do it. Otherwise, problems that start in the colon do not always stay there. If our colon cannot function correctly and help keep the waste moving through our system, it will cause problems in other areas of our body as well.

If you experience any discomfort in your lower stomach, constipation, or diarrhea more than what is normal for you, it may be time to discuss this with your doctor.

Don’t be embarrassed. This is our health that we are talking about!

Once your health goes, what quality of life will you have?

Below you can leave any comments, questions, or topics you would like to see in future discussions.

Other articles to read

7 Best Colon Cleanses For Weight Loss

Colon Detox Plus – The Natural Detox Cleanse Product

How To Choose The Best Cleanse Plan

Here is a PIN you can share with your friends on Pinterest;