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Colon Health Facts
By peace | December 22, 2006
The colon, also known as the large intestine, is a tubular organ approximately 4 to 5 feet long and about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. The colon is found in the lower abdomen. It extends from the small intestine to the rectum.
The colon is part of the digestive or gastro-intestinal system. The main functions of the colon are absorption of water and minerals, and the formation and elimination of stool (feces).
The colon contains trillions of friendly bacteria called probiotics. There are about 60 varieties of probiotics in the colon. These helpful probiotics lower the pH of the colon, killing disease causing microbes. Probiotics also produce vitamins B and K and protect us from illness. A few of the more common friendly bacteria in the colon are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Bifidobacteria bifidus.
Signs of a Healthy Colon
1. Regular bowel movements with a frequency of 1-3 times per day.
2. Easy, relaxed bowel movements. Straining and working up a sweat should not be necessary.
3. Stool color of walnut brown. Temporary discoloration may occur from foods like carrots, beets, and dark green vegetables.
4. Stool consistency similar to tooth paste and about the length of a banana. Stool should never be hard and pellet shaped.
5. Minimal gas and intestinal discomfort. Gas is a natural by product of digestion, but an abundance of gas is not normal.
Steps to a Healthy Colon
1. Pure Water – Pure clean water is essential for colon health. Drink distilled or reverse osmosis water. Divide your body weight by 2 to determine the ounces of water that you should drink daily. Don’t drink tap water. Soft drinks, coffee, processed fruit juices, and alcohol don’t count towards your daily water requirement.
2. Proper Diet – Eat a low fat/high fiber diet of whole foods. Eat God’s foods, avoid man’s processed foods.
3. Fiber – Eat plenty of raw whole fruits and vegetables. Also include fresh nuts and whole grains. If additional fiber is needed, try a fiber supplement such as psyllium.
4. Reduce Stress – Relax, don’t take life too seriously. Don’t try to do too much in one day. Reduce the stressful situations and conflicts in your life. Don’t let little things bug you. Most of all put your faith and trust in God and let Him help you with your burdens and troubles.
5. Exercise – Get moderate exercise 5 days per week by participating in activities such as walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming and resistance training.
6. Friendly Bacteria – Avoid antibiotics and other drugs. Drugs often kill the friendly bacteria in your colon, especially antibiotics. Dairy products like yogurt, cottage cheese, and buttermilk and fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut and soybeans (miso, tempeh, tamari) are natural probiotics. Probiotic supplementation is another way to restore your colon with friendly bacteria.
7. Detoxification – At least twice a year and ideally four times a year cleanse and detoxify your colon. Over time food particles and toxins accumulate in the colon and must be removed for optimal colon health. There are many herbal cleansing products available.
Consequences of Improper Colon Maintenance
1. Constipation is caused primarily by insufficient dietary fiber and water.
2. Diarrhea may be caused by a temporary problem, like an infection, or a chronic problem, like an intestinal disease. A few of the more common causes of diarrhea include viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections; food intolerance; reactions to medicine; intestinal diseases; and functional bowel disorders.
3. Hemorrhoids, also known as Piles, are dilated veins in the anus and rectum. They are caused by insufficient dietary fiber and by straining during bowel elimination.
4. Appendicitis refers to inflammation and infection of the appendix. It is caused by low fiber intake and a lack of good bacteria.
5. Colitis, also known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Spastic Colon, is when the inner lining of the colon becomes inflamed. It is the most frequently seen gastrointestinal disease and is highly related to stress. Ulcerative colitis is a more severe form of this disease in which ulcers, or open sores, appear in the inner lining of the colon. Even though it is caused largely by stress, a healthy bowel including all of the factors mentioned above can help protect us from colitis.
6. Diverticulosis is an outward ballooning (diverticula) in the bowel wall caused by increased internal pressure and weakening of the bowel wall. It is caused by chronic constipation which in turn is caused by a lifetime of insufficient dietary fiber and poor bowel hygiene. If a diverticula becomes inflamed it is call Diverticulitis.
7. Prolapsed Colon is a common condition that occurs when the colon “falls” from its normal position to a lower position. It is caused by a general deterioration of colon health as a result of poor colon hygiene. The real problem occurs when the abdominal organs, including the colon, exert pressure on the prostate in men and the uterus and ovaries in women.
8. Dilated Blood Vessels such as varicose veins are often caused, like hemorrhoids, by increased internal pressure resulting from straining during bowel elimination because of insufficient dietary fiber.
9. Skin Problems are often the result of poor colon hygiene. Some toxins are eliminated through the sweat pores. When excess toxins are being absorbed by the colon, the other elimination systems such as the kidneys, lungs, and skin are overloaded. Unsightly blemishes on the skin can be the result.
10. Halitosis, or “bad breath,” can result from colon problems in the same way. In this case the lungs are eliminating toxins that are being absorbed by an unhealthy colon.
11. Cancer can be the result of long term colon problems and toxicity caused by our typical high fat/low fiber diet.
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