How The Colon Functions

Did you know that 95% of all colon cancers can be prevented if they are caught early enough? In this article we will discuss how the colon functions and what diet you should be following in order to keep your colon healthy and free from disease. In fact, the colon is one of four major wastes elimination systems in your body.

How The Colon Functions-The ABC’s

Your colon, along with other vital organs such as the lungs and kidneys have been specifically designed to help your body safely eliminates waste products out of the intestines. The colon consists of the large intestine, rectum and the anus and is the final portion of the G.I. track. The colon extends anywhere from 5 feet to 5 1/2 feet and has a diameter of two a half inches. The colon’s main functions are to absorb water and minerals and create and eliminate feces. Within the colon are vital bacteria that help to aid in digestion, reabsorbing of metabolic fluids, and help your body maintain its normal ph. The colon’s activity is controlled by muscular contractions as it slowly moves waste out of your body. This muscle action is called peristalsis.

Colon health can be aided by eating foods such as whole grains, nuts, and fresh fruits and vegetables. By eating a diet that is high in fiber you can adequately simulator peristalsis and get rid of harmful waste materials that have been absorbed through food and the environment. Eating a diet that lacks in fiber can result in constipation which can be extremely painful and potentially cause disease.

Foods such as refined sugar, meats, and white flour can also slow down peristalsis. If peristalsis slows down too much, constipation occurs and toxic gases which are the result of rotting food in the colon can be released into the bloodstream which have the potential to cause numerous diseases throughout the body. Peristalsis can also be increased by drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day. Morning exercising such as walking helps to “massage” the colon area helps to stimulate normal colon function. In fact, morning walks are essential for older individuals in order to stimulate peristalsis.

Colon cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in the United States. The average American diet is not rich in fiber and thus results in an unhealthy. Those who are at greatest risk of getting colon cancer are sedentary individuals that have a poor diet that is high in sugar and fat. By including a regular exercise routine, eating foods that are high in fiber such as fruits and vegetables and roughage, and making sure you drink plenty of fluids; the risk of common colon ailments can be significantly decreased.

Proper colon health is essential to have a healthy body. Once your colon begins malfunction due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits, disease can work its way through your entire body. The average individual should have 2-3 bowel movements per day, if your frequency is not this high, you can stimulate peristalsis by eating more fruits and vegetables and by including exercise in your daily routine. In fact, understanding how the colon functions is the first step to getting a healthy body.

Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Colon

The colon, also known a the large intestine, is the last part of the digestive track, even though it’s not really involved to any large degree in digestion. It’s mainly a holding area for stool before it’s eliminated from the body and also absorbs some water and electrolytes. The colon is about five feet long.

Dietary fiber is crucial to the health and good function of the colon. A diet high in fiber increases the bulk and frequency of bowl movements even as it shortens the time that food passes through the digestive track. Fiber also keeps the body from absorbing toxins and guards against diseases and disorders like constipation, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and even colon cancer.

Dysbiosis is another malady that can be caused when the colon is not healthy. This is a derangement of the ratio of “good” micro-flora in the intestine to “bad” micro-flora. Sometimes this manifests as diarrhea and abdominal pain. Often, dysbiosis can be treated by the person ingesting more probiotic bacteria. Dysbiosis caused by parasites can be treated with other compounds.

Without a lot of fiber in the diet, waste materials accumulate in the colon. This can lead to constipation. Many people with constipation are overly reliant on laxatives, even though their constipation can be eased if they added more fiber to their diet. Other things people can do toward maintaining a healthy colon is drink six to eight glasses of fluid per day, ideally fresh water. They should visit the bathroom the same time every day, even if they don’t have the urge to defecate. The best time to do this is right after breakfast or exercise.

The person should also exercise three times a week, in sessions that last at least twenty minutes. They should also restrict the use of laxatives and enemas. This will go a long way in maintaining a healthy colon.

Best Foods for a Healthy Colon

It is important to eat the right kind of foods in order to have a healthy colon. Let’s face it, the foods we consume matter so much to our overall health, and not least to colon health. Eating healthy foods ensures that you minimize your chances of catching diseases and even colon problems. Some of the foods we eat can also be helpful in treating colon problems.

Maybe you are wondering what kind of foods to eat for a healthy colon. Well, here are some of the best foods to eat in order to maintain a healthy colon:

 

Fruits and vegetables

Eating all sorts of fruits and vegetables can help you reduce the risk of developing colon cancer, according to various medical studies. Vegetables and fruits also have fiber which is important in your diet as it helps the body in digestion and excretion. When taken with fluids, fiber helps prevent constipation, for proper functioning of your bowels.

 

Water

Needless to say, water has so many benefits to your body which also include constipation relief and improved functioning of the colon. Drink plenty of water every day for a healthy colon.

 

Whole grains

Cereals, whole-grain breads, brown rice, pasta, whole grains such as barley, wheat, and bulgur consist of plenty soluble fiber that assists in moving food through the digestive system. It is recommended that when you increase your fiber intake, drink lots of water as well.

 

Chicken, fish, nuts, beans and soy products

Studies have shown that eating a diet high in saturated fats increases the risk of developing colon cancer. You should also cut down your consumption of red meat and instead eat lean meats. Eat beans, nuts, soy products, fish, and skinless chicken breasts instead.

 

Vitamin D, foods rich in calcium and folate

Eating foods low on folate and calcium can increase the risk of developing colon cancer. You should eat healthy foods that are rich in calcium in your diet, including fresh or canned salmon, low-fat dairy products, and fortified foods like orange juice and whole-grain breads. Vitamin D enables the body to absorb calcium, so get some sunshine every day if possible, take calcium supplements that contain vitamin D and consume fortified foods as well. Examples of foods rich in folate include leafy green vegetables, lentils, strawberries, broccoli, and oranges.

 

Probiotics

Basically, living bacteria that help in reducing abnormal cell development among humans and animals are known as probiotics. They can help in prevention of colon cancer. Examples of foods that contain probiotics include yoghurt, kefir, acidophilus milk, and fermented soy products like tempeh and miso.

Probiotics: Natural Way to Good Health!

We often hear the word probiotics in health products and commercials, but most of the people are still not aware of it. Probiotics got its name from two Latin words: Pro meaning “for” and biotic meaning “for life”. So, from this etymology, we at least get an idea what these probiotics are and how they actually work. Probiotics comprise of bacteria that is beneficial to human health. All products that are termed probiotics have right amounts of these microorganisms, which in one way or the other; provide large number of health benefits to humans. Microorganisms that have beneficial effects on the health are lactic acid bacteria and bifida bacteria. You will find these two microorganisms in various health supplements and yoghurt products.

How Does Probiotics Work?

Generally, bacteria is a term that doesn’t have that high reputation in the human world. Actually, bacterium being the main culprit is responsible for various illnesses and even death amongst humans. Due to this, people do everything possible to eradicate the. We use sanitizers, antiseptics and alcohols. We also purify our drinking water and cook our food properly to avoid getting infected with these bacteria.

Though bacteria can cause various types of illnesses and even death, it can also be beneficial for humans and this depends upon the number and type of bacteria. Probiotics contain bacteria that are not harmful to humans, and they are present in limited amounts. Lactobacilli, a bacteria mostly found in probiotics, has been found helpful in improving digestion amongst humans. They convert lactose into lactic acid, which limits the growth of various harmful bacteria. Lactobacillus is present in vagina and gut. These body areas need acidic environment for proper functioning.

Various Health Benefits of Probiotics

1. Lactose intolerance-Probiotics can be very helpful to the people with lactose intolerance. This health condition occurs when a person has deficiency of a vital enzyme for converting lactose into lactic acid. Certain probiotics like lactobacillus help in this particular problem as they are primarily responsible for this conversion. This is helpful for the suffering people as they become much more tolerant to lactose.

2. Gastro intestinal health-Large amounts of lactobacillus microbe is naturally present in the gut where it is responsible for maintaining the acidic environment. They also prevent the proliferation of harmful bacteria. This helps in improving the person’s digestion and resistance to various gastrointestinal infections. Probiotics with bifid-o-bacteria and lactobacillus have also be found helpful in managing diarrhea, which occurs mainly due to certain harmful microorganism that invade the gut. In the presence of probiotics, various harmful agents fail to proliferate and cause any damage.

3. Prevention of colon cancer-Many studies in the past has indicated that probiotics help in the prevention of colon cancer. Some strains of lactobacilli have shown anti-mutagenic effect where they prevent the cells from mutating and thus turning into cancerous cells. This helps in preventing the formation of cancer. Though many people still think that bacteria can only case diseases and illness, but given the facts, it is clear that we also cannot survive without them!

What is bowel incontinence?

Bowel incontinence, also referred to as fecal incontinent, is the inability of a person to control their bowel movements. This disorder can vary in severity-it can either be partial, where one only loses a little amount of liquid waste, or complete, in which one is unable to control their solid bowel movements.

This problem affects men and women, although it’s more common in the females as they may have nerve or anal injuries during childbirth. Bowel incontinence is also common with the elderly as anal sphincter muscles, which control their bowel movements, become weaker.

 

What are the causes of bowel incontinence?

There are many factors that can cause fecal incontinence: Injury or damage to anal sphincter muscles or nerves that around these muscles Anal surgery to correct another condition Poor diet Certain medications, for example an anti-seizure medicine like Neurontin or other antibiotics Chemotherapy Radiation treatment on the lower pelvic area Stroke Constipation or chronic diarrhea-related conditions Diabetes or scleroderma Damage to the spinal cord.

 

Signs/symptoms of bowel incontinence

Unless you are experiencing a very severe case of diarrhea, you are unlikely get any fecal leakage. If your condition is chronic, you may have regular or few accidents (of fecal leakage). There are various symptoms of the problem, including the inability to keep hold of gas, silent fecal leakage due to exertion or a normal day’s activities, or failure to reach the toilet in the nick of time.

When talking about bowel incontinence, there are two terms mainly used to describe the condition. The first one is urge fecal incontinence, in which one suddenly gets the urge to visit the toilet but is not able to make it there in time. The second term is passive soiling, whereby one does not feel when they are about to have bowel movements.

When fecal incontinence episodes occur, the kinds of stools passed can vary. The stools might either be solid or liquid and one may break wind and pass small stool at the same time. Episodes of bowel incontinence also vary and one may experience them daily, weekly, or even monthly.

Other symptoms of fecal incontinence may include the following: Abdominal pain and cramping Constipation Bloating Flatulence Diarrhea Irritation and itchiness in the anus Urinary incontinence.

For some people, this disorder is not quite serious as it results in the soiling of their underwear on the odd occasion. But for others, the condition can be very serious as there can be an utter lack of control on their bowel movements.

 

Treatment for bowel incontinence

Once the cause of the problem is found, this condition can be cured or improved significantly in most people. However, treatment methods for this condition will depend on the underlying cause.

Sometimes making dietary changes or avoiding certain medications can help treat the problem.

Medications can also help to provide relief and change the stool consistency since it easier to control solid stool that liquid one. Some anti-diarrhea over-the-counter medications such as Imodium and prescription medicines like Lomotil can help.

Biofeedback can help you increase the coordination and strength of anal muscles so as to help control your bowel movements. It also makes it easier to for you to know when it is time to go to the toilet.

Kegel or pelvic floor exercises can also help in treatment of bowel incontinence. Doing these exercises for a few weeks should improve or cure the problem.

For those who try various treatments which do not resolve fecal incontinence, surgery may be the only option to cure the condition. Women, in particular those who have had anal muscle injuries during childbirth, should undergo surgery to correct the problem.

 

Can fecal incontinence be prevented?

Yes, fecal incontinence can be prevented or alleviated. If your problem is due to constipation, make sure you avoid it by having more exercises, consuming foods high in fiber and taking more fluids to help alleviate constipation, which in turn can help relieve fecal incontinence.

Eliminating or treating diarrhea can also help prevent bowel incontinence as well as avoiding straining as you pass stool.

Benefits of a Healthy Colon

A healthy colon usually reflects on your overall health.  The colon may be located at the very end of your digestive system but it plays an important role in your body. It acts as an abode for friendly bacteria which are useful to your body. Keeping your colon healthy will therefore give you a lot of benefits.

One of the benefits of maintaining the health of your colon is that it is the one that is responsible for absorbing the nutrients that your body needs. It absorbs salts and minerals like riboflavin and thiamin. In addition to that, it also absorbs water and vitamins B12 and K.

These are very important vitamins in your body. Vitamin B12 builds new cells by making the DNA required to do that.  Vitamin B12 also provides the maintenance required by your nerve cells. It also breaks down the amino acids and fatty acids in your body.

On the other hand, vitamin K helps your blood to clot so that you don’t lose a lot of it should you cut or prick yourself. It also makes the protein required to repair yourColon bones. The riboflavin and thiamin minerals help in metabolism. The importance of water in your body can never be over-emphasized. It keeps you hydrated and flushes toxins out of your body.

Apart from the colon absorbing important nutrients, it has another important function. It inhibits the absorption of harmful micro-organisms that may carry disease with them. It also prepares the waste products that are to be expelled from your body.

How can you ensure a healthy colon? You can do that by including fiber in your diet. Fiber will cleanse your colon and leave it in perfect condition to perform its functions.  Eating fiber can prevent you from colon cancer. The fiber that is left undigested will keep sweeping through the large intestines to retain water and exercise the peristalsis muscles.

A healthy colon will protect your body from being invaded and infected by disease. The friendly bacteria that live in the colon create a barrier that prevents pathogenic bacteria from colonizing your digestive system. The bacteria also cause the degradation of allergenic food protein and toxic substances that may have entered your digestive tract.

Your colon needs be healthy in order to regulate your body’s uptake of triglyceride and cholesterol which may be harmful in high levels. When it is at its optimum health, the colon will prevent the inflammation of your digestive tract. You may need a colon detox in order to cleanse your colon in order to gain maximum benefit.

If your colon is not healthy, it may end up affecting other parts of your body. You may suffer from diarrhea, deficiency of vitamins and constipation. When the colon fails to work as it should, it may absorb too much water. This will leave the stools dry leading to constipation. It may also fail to absorb water leaving the stools loose leading diarrhea. A healthy colon will help you enjoy good overall health and it’s your duty to ensure it is healthy.

Probiotics Can Change Your Life

Do you suffer from any of the following conditions: acne, allergies, depression, chronic fatigue or headaches? If you do, did you know your bowel could be to blame? It’s absolutely true. However, you are in luck, because Bowtrol Probiotics can help.

Bowtrol Probiotics Can Help Restore Colon Health

Bowtrol Probiotics can restore the healthy amount of bacteria in your colon that is necessary for optimal health. Restoring the healthy levels of bacteria and ridding the body of putrefied waste can dramatically decrease symptoms of ill-health.

Our colons were not designed for the modern diet that most of us eat today. Modern diets are often full of sugar, chemicals and additives. Our hectic lifestyles often demand we grab meals on the go, and even though our bellies might tell us we are no longer hungry, we pay for it later on.

All the ingredients we should not eat, or at least only eat in tiny amounts, clog our colons. This mass slows the entire process of waste elimination down. It might not be the most pleasant thing to think about, but remember that proper elimination is key to vigorous health. Why?

Proper elimination rids our body of the harmful chemicals, poisons and byproducts that can cause poor health. Everything is supposed to run smoothly and efficiently, but if you look at the amount of gastrointestinal products that are available both over the counter and by prescription, you will see that there is a dramatic decrease in colon health in this country today.

Bowtrol Probiotic Works Gently

One of the things most people who have taken Bowtrol Probiotic say is that they are amazed at how gentle yet powerful this product really is. Many of these folks have tried to restore their colon health by using harsh suppositories or enemas, only to find themselves suffering from cramping and loose stools.

Bowtrol Probiotics is not a harsh laxative. It is not a suppository, either. Instead, Bowtrol Priobiotic is an oral supplement that comes in easy to swallow capsules. It is made of all natural herbs and substances and its mission is to restore the health of your colon.

Bowtrol Probiotics Will Improve Your Health

Probiotics are the healthy microorganisms that our bodies need. You have probably seen yogurt manufacturers advertising their probiotic products. In a healthy colon, there are usually about 400 probiotic microorganisms that help maintain bowel health.

Without the proper balance of probiotics, a human being call become ill. That is how important these tiny organisms are. And that is what Bowtrol Probiotics does: it restores the proper balance of microflora in the colon which results in a decrease in symptoms such as depression, ashy and dry skin, chronic tiredness and acne.

This All-Natural Product Can Change Your Life

You won’t just see the difference after you begin taking Bowtrol Probiotics, you will feel it. Energy you forgot you ever had will be restored. Headaches will go away. You are going to feel and look better once you start taking Bowtrol Probiotics.

For absolute optimum health, you should combine Bowtrol Probiotics with Bowtrol Colon Cleanser. Then watch how your life changes because of how good you feel.

Visit the Bowtrol Probiotic Official Website