The Consequences of a Crappy Colon

The colon is part of the large intestine, the second half of the digestive system. Its purpose is to absorb fluids and process waste from the body and prepare for its ejection. The colon consists of five sections: descending colon, ascending colon, transverse colon, sigmoid colon and cecum. I bet you had no idea the colon had so many parts to it!

The colon begins on the lower right side of the abdomen, connecting from the small intestine that empties the contents of digestion (chyme) into the first portion of the colon (cecum). The ascending colon “ascends” from the cecum to near your liver; it then bends to the left and crosses the stomach as the transverse colon.

Near your spleen the descending colon goes down your left side to your pelvic bones, where it becomes the sigmoid region. The sigmoid colon empties into the rectum, where waste material exits from your body.

The chyme is moved along by muscular movements named peristalsis triggered by the nerve supply to the colon. Think of it kind of like using a plastic bag to pour frosting. Hopefully that doesn’t ruin frosting for you! (It’s not good for you anyway.)

Healthy eating is crucial for your overall health, but having a low-calorie, high-fiber diet with many fruits and vegetables is pivotal to a healthy colon. A strong colon will rid your body of the leftovers it does not require. Your stool is squirming with your own colon-specific bacteria, so it is important for it to leave your body when the job is done. If your colon isn’t working properly, you will experience a myriad of problems.

So does it need “cleansed”? No! The natural bacteria it carries is a good thing. In fact, attempts to do colon cleansing can lead to health problems or even decrease your colon’s abilities. The best cleansing is a healthy diet, plenty of water, additional supplementation such as the Regular/Colon Support, and “regular” visits to the bathroom. The bacteria that does sit in your colon will not harm it, as long as it is cycled out to make room for new cultures.

So what can happen to you if you don’t take care of your colon? First of all, young people make the mistake of eating whatever they want and carry those habits well into mid-adulthood. While a colon has a God-given talent to tackle some pretty nasty stuff, it can take a toll on its stamina after decades of difficult-to-digest food. Start yourself and your family young on proper nutrition.

Eventually colons do not work as well as they used to work. That’s why older people have a harder time with bathroom visits and often need supplementation to aid their digestion.

Unhealthy colons do two main things, pass the stool too fast or too slow, diarrhea or constipation. Yet so many other things can cause these issues so it’s important to contact a physician. Odd side effects of colon problems are acne, mood swings, tiredness, headaches, and other flu like symptoms.

Recently, doctors in China removed a colon from a man that contained 30 lbs of waste (yes, poop.) He had a rare condition that many of us will never experience but the important thing to know is the man almost died.

We all hear of colon cancer but the more plausible danger is just not maintaining your pipes properly. If there isn’t a regular flow, you just will never know when you will go.