Americans have the highest rate of colon-rectal cancer of any nation in the world. It is now accounted for more deaths of Americans than ever before in history. Many people think it's a dirty subject and some think it's embarrassing, but cancer and death are worse. Maintaining the health of your colon can help to significantly improve your overall health and limit the occurrence of constipation and diarrhea.

What Is The Colon?

In anatomy of the human body's digestive system, the colon, also called the large intestine or large bowel, is the part of the intestine from the cecum to the rectum. It plays an important role in the body, because it rids our system of toxins, fecal matter and waste while absorbing water and nutrients. One will find a very delicate balance of bacteria in the colon, which assist it in its processes. If this balance is disturbed out of sorts, normal colon functioning can be inhibited.

Health Issues Promoted By Slow Digestive Transit Time

Reports show that the food we ingest should have a transit time through our body of less than twenty-four hours. Under active bowels create a disease-friendly environment in the colon. The slower transit time allows toxins to penetrate the bowel wall and pass to the blood system, eventually spreading throughout the body. This can cause a weakened immune state, which leads to quicker development of major diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many others. Even with one bowel movement per day, you will still have at least three meals worth of waste matter putrefying in your colon at all times. Even worse, your digestive system can also become continuously self-polluting cauldron of poisonous gases that are caused by foods you can't tolerate. Think about the potential ill effects that wait someone with an under active colon! These poisonous gases can enter your bloodstream, irritating your organs and joints. Certainly this is a prospect not any of us want to have to deal with.

Why Is Your Colon Under Functioning?

Many factors lead to an under functioning colon, such as diet, stress, drugs and chemicals. When the colon is irritated, it produces mucus to protect itself, which can bind with food residues and become hardened, sticking to colon walls. Symptoms associated with a clogged colon include diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, headache, spots, poor skin, muscle and joint aches, and depression or emotional instability. Food trapped in the colon breeds bacteria and other parasites.

Improving Your Health

A regular colon cleansing is practiced by millions of people for different reasons. Many people choose to proactively clean their colons because of lifestyle factors (past and present), such as eating red meat, drinking alcohol, coffee or soda, eating too many dairy products or junk food, smoking, or not exercising. Others choose to clean their colons because they are overweight. While others cleanse their colon as an effective means to preventative care.

Reported benefits of cleaning the colon include weight loss, better mental health, improved digestion and nutrient absorption, better memory, regular bowel movements, reduced gas and food sensitivities, a reduction of toxins, increased energy. Additional Benefits of Colon Cleansing: