Colon Health: Meet the COLON

Let me introduce you to the COLON!

What is a Colon?

The Colon, also called the Large intestine, also known as the large bowel  is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract and of the digestive system in vertebrates.

Water is absorbed here and the remaining waste material is stored as feces before being removed by defecation. The intestines are a long, continuous tube running from the stomach to the anus. Most absorption of nutrients and water happen in the intestines. The intestines include the Small Intestine, Large Intestine, and Rectum.

The Colon receives wastes from the Small Intestine (small bowel -about 20 feet long and about an inch in diameter)  its job is to absorb most of the nutrients from what we eat and drink. Velvety tissue lines the Small Intestine, which is divided into the Duodenum, Jejunum, and Ileum.

The rest of the colon is divided into (4) four parts:

• The Ascending colon travels up the right side of the abdomen.
• The Transverse colon runs across the abdomen.
• The Descending colon travels down the left abdomen.
• The Sigmoid colon is a short curving of the colon, just before the Rectum.

How long is your colon?  

The large intestine (colon or large bowel) is about 5 feet long and about 3 inches in diameter.

What is the function of the Colon?

Its function is to reabsorb fluids and process waste products from the body and prepare for its elimination. The colon removes water, salt, and some nutrients forming stool. Muscles line the Colon's walls, squeezing its contents along. Billions of bacteria, mucus coats the colon and its contents, living in a healthy balance with the body.

The Colon is also called  “trash” of the body. It has the harshest environment—where inhabitants (bugs, bad/good bacteria, fungus, yeast, parasites) are found and resides. It is a toxic waste site. The tissues in the Colon harshly go through wear and tear due to these inhabitants and decomposition of food particles. These inhabitants are needed and are also helpful through the process of decomposition.  Some or most of them can create havoc to the Colon structure and can back up to the other parts of the GUT.

Because the Colon is a toxic waste site, it is vital to regularly cleanse, balance or rid, as needed to to keep a healthy Colon. We have more Microbiome(bugs) than our cells in the body, emptying and cleansing properly can help balance these Microbiomes—which are also useful in lots of good functions in the body  and they can also give bad functions in the body as well.

Does your colon really need cleansing?

Although the Digestive System and bowel movement already eliminate waste material and bacteria from your body, a colon cleansing can be very helpful. Taking a simple laxative can still give the effort of colon contraction and pushing itself to expel fecal matter from the Rectum. This can result to constipation where the other Pelvic organs also do the hard efforts during the pushing.  Peristalsis (movement of muscle in the Colon) is important in the Colon to create space and good “synchronized movements between organs called Motility. The Colon frequently can dehydrate from stress, tension, medications, low electrolytes and poor diet. If the Colon (large Intestine) is backed up, pressure build up in the lower abdomen happens and can seriously hinder digestion, breathing,  create a head ache and possible severe discomforts.

If the Colon is not eliminating and properly, toxicity can happen in the GUT and the Digestive Tract. It can be affect the bowel movement, constipation can occur, bad breathe, moodiness, poor concentration, limited range-of-motion, tiredness, lethargy, poor sleep, poor nutrient absorption, dry skin and toxicity and more.

How do you clean out your colon?

Colon cleanses comes in different ways, some suggestions below:

• Colon hydrotherapy also called colonic, deep enema or colonic irrigation can be very helpful in chronic constipation, colon hydration and helps in the detoxification of the other eliminating organs –the Liver, Kidneys,  and eases up the GUT to function well.

“A Colonic cleanse also hydrates and exercises the Colon through contraction and relaxation done during sessions .” ~Roxy Clemence –Colon Hydrotherapist

• You can also add these preparation suggestions from these fruits (Source: Web MD):

Take ½ cup Apple Juice, add 2 tablespoons Lemon juice and a teaspoon of ginger juice.

Mix it in ½ cup of warm water. You can drink this mixture once a day to help detoxify the colon and encourage proper digestion.

• Cleanse your Colon in a healthy and intelligent with state-of-the-art cleanse products with diet and dosages GUIDE!   Shaklee Healthy Cleanse

Roxy’s Supplementation suggestions for Colon maintenance:  

The Colon is challenged every day in its chemical balance, microbe balance, tissue repair, mucus balance, water supply, muscle energy and toxicity. I would like to suggest my Colon Maintenance pack:

Optiflora Pre-Probiotic  or Optiflora DI –for balanced Microflora –Guaranteed bacteria delivery to the Colon!

Zinc—mucus health

Carotomax—beta carotene

Fiber Tablets or Unflavored Fiber powder with Lecithin—stool bulk

Vitamin C Sustained Release 500mg –tissue repair

Flavomax –a juice source in a tab/ anti-oxidant

Herba-Lax- bowel regulator

Osteomatrix –Calcium

Vita D3 –tissue/muscle health

Alfalfa—antibacterial/ trace minerals/chlorophyl

Hydrate Performance Electrolyte—maximum hydration

• Some of these may apply or not. Please contact Roxy or Tola for guidance on these Colon maintenance supplements!

Disclaimer: These statements are not evaluated by the FDA, nor its intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent a disease or illness. Results may vary per person.

How does your colon work?

The water is absorbed in the Colon. Bacteria in the colon break down the remaining material. Then the colon moves the leftover material into the rectum. Muscles in the rectum move the waste, called stool, out of the body through the anus.

Ions and nutrients released by gut bacteria and dissolved in water are also absorbed in the Colon (large intestine) and used by the body for metabolism. The dried, condensed fecal matter is finally stored in the rectum and sigmoid colon until it can be eliminated from the body through the process of defecation.

Where does poop stay in body?

Answer: THE COLON.

Yep, it's poop (also called stool) The Colon absorbs water from wastes, creating stool. The Colon pushes the poop into the rectum (say: REK-tum), the very last stop on the digestive tract through the Peristalsis movement.  And the solid waste stays here until you are ready for you to go to the bathroom or cleanse. The large intestine (colon or large bowel) is about 5 feet long and about 3 inches in diameter. The colon absorbs water from wastes, creating stool. As stool enters the rectum, nerves there create the urge to defecate.

Can I live without a Colon?

People can live without a colon, but may need to wear a bag outside their body to collect stool. However, a surgical procedure can be performed to create a pouch in the small intestine that takes the place of the colon, and in this case, wearing a bag is not necessary.  Source: The Mayo Clinic.

For more questions on Colon Health, please send us a message here in the website and we will be  glad to talk more about this topic with you!

To a healthy GUT and Prevention!

~Tola and Roxy