Colon Cleansing – Returning the Favor to the Body's Top Waste Manager

It is high time to recognize the part of our body that is usually left behind during dinner conversations, ignored for the most part, if not for the entirety, of our lives – the colon. For a rather large organ, approximately 1.5 meters in length, it is a wonder how we could miss it but we do, up until it show signs of wear and tear, only then do we give it a second look. But not anymore, not now that the numbers of the incidence of colon cancer is rising. We are more aware now and it is time to give back.

Just how do you clean the body’s cleaning machine? The best way to keep this organ as fit as possible is to have regular bowel habit. A healthy colon needs six to eighteen hours after every meal to eliminate waste. A movement of one up to three times per day would be ideal. That way, there would be no leftovers from previous meals left in your colon. For those who experience constipation, one way to temporarily relieve this condition is to use laxatives. Emphasis should be placed on the word temporary because some may abuse laxative use or become dependent on them. We can, however, use laxatives to jumpstart our way to establishing a better or more regular bowel habit. Achieving it is just one step though; we need to maintain this regularity in order to reap the long term effects of having a healthy colon.

Everything we need to keep our colon as fit as a fiddle is within our reach. Nature has its ways of giving us just exactly what we need, if we know where to look for it, that is. Think green here. Plants, particularly those high in fiber, are exactly what we need. Green, leafy vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and whole grains are rich sources of dietary fiber and this, in turn, comes in two types: the soluble and insoluble ones. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and binds to cholesterol, facilitating its passage out of the body. Soluble fiber also plays a role in increasing the amount of friendly bacteria that is naturally found in our colon. The second type, the insoluble fiber, also known as roughage, is considered a bulk-producing agent. They cause the stool to become more bulky and retain more water, making defecation easier.

We need both types of fiber. In fact, our body needs between 20-35 grams of fiber everyday. Foods high in soluble fiber include beans, peas, rice, barley, citrus, strawberries, and apples. Foods high in insoluble fiber include whole wheat, cauliflower, rye, barley, cabbage, beets, carrots, and turnips. Flax seed and oats are highest in both types.

Just a word of caution, though. Adding much fiber over a short span of time may result in flatulence, bloating, and abdominal cramping. So it is best to gradually increase the fiber in your diet, instead, and over a period of a few weeks, preferably. This allows the natural flora in your digestive tract to adjust. Also, it is imperative that you drink plenty of water, too. Remember, fiber works by absorbing water, making stools bulkier and soft. If water is insufficient then, stool will not be bulky or soft enough, and you may just end up being constipated all over again.

‹ Previous Page