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How to Maintain and Keep your Colon Healthy

October 11, 2019

Written by Tea Bird Tea

How to Maintain and Keep your Colon Healthy

October 11, 2019

Written by Tea Bird Tea

Where is the colon in our body?

The colon or large intestine is one of the many internal organs in our body. The ileum (last part of the small intestine) connects to the cecum (first part of the colon) in the lower right abdomen. The rest of the colon is divided into 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.

The colon removes water, salt, and some nutrients forming stool. Muscles line the colon's walls, squeezing its contents along. Billions of bacteria coat the colon and its contents, living in a healthy balance with the body.

Functions of the Colon

The small intestine plays a major role in absorbing nutrients from food. Our large intestine plays a much smaller role. It stores waste, reclaims water, maintains water balance, absorbs certain vitamins (like vitamin K), and provides for flora-aided (mostly bacterial) fermentation.

The descending colon (located on the left side of the large intestine, extending from the bend below the spleen to the sigmoid colon) stores the food to be emptied into the rectum. The colon is held in place by peritoneum, a thin layer of tissue that supports the abdominal organs. Blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves all pass through the peritoneum to reach various organs.

Colon Diseases and Conditions

Colitis	This is the inflammation of the colon. Inflammatory bowel disease or infections are the most common causes.
Diverticulosis	Small weak areas in the colon's muscular wall allow the colon's lining to protrude through, forming tiny pouches called diverticuli. Diverticuli usually cause no problems but can bleed or become inflamed or infected.
Diverticulitis	When diverticuli become inflamed or infected, diverticulitis results. Abdominal pain, fever, and constipation are common symptoms.
Colon bleeding (haemorrhage	Multiple potential colon problems can cause bleeding. Rapid bleeding is visible in the stool, but very slow bleeding might not be.
Inflammatory bowel disease	A name for either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Both conditions can cause colon inflammation (colitis).
Crohn's disease	An inflammatory condition that usually affects the colon and intestines. Abdominal pain and diarrhoea (which may be bloody) are symptoms.
Ulcerative colitis	An inflammatory condition that usually affects the colon and rectum. Like Crohn's disease, bloody diarrhoea is a common symptom of ulcerative colitis.
Diarrhoea	Stools that are frequent, loose, or watery are commonly called diarrhoea. Most diarrhoea is due to self-limited, mild infections of the colon or small intestine.
Salmonellosis	The bacteria Salmonella can contaminate food and infect the intestine. Salmonella causes diarrhoea and stomach cramps, which usually resolve without treatment.
Shigellosis	The bacteria Shigella can contaminate food and invade the colon. Symptoms include fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea, which may be bloody.
Traveller’s diarrhoea	Many different bacteria commonly contaminate water or food in developing countries. Loose stools, sometimes with nausea and fever, are symptoms.
Colon polyps	Polyps are small growths. Some of these develop into cancer, but it takes a long time. Removing them can prevent many colon cancers.
Colon cancer	Cancer of the colon affects more than 100,000 Americans each year. Most colon cancer is preventable through regular screening.

(sources: https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/picture-of-the-colon#2)

How to Maintain a Healthy Colon?

To keep your colon healthy, follow these tips:

These detoxification suggestions increase your quality of life by assisting in reduction of the risk of potentially preventable illness like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), diverticulosis, and colon cancer.

In addition, they can promote an attrition of the discomforts of bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, fatigue, and gas.

1. Make food loaded with fiber your friend

Fibre-rich food is a great choice for a healthy colon. Eating a good amount (about 25-35 grams daily) of high-fibre foods like raspberries, bananas, prunes, peas, broccoli, beans, celery, and whole-wheat pasta is a great start to cleanse the body. Other fibre-rich whole grains include brown rice, whole wheat and whole-wheat breakfast cereals. Fibre keeps food waste moving along your digestive tract, which helps your intestines stay squeaky clean and can decrease your risk for diverticular disease.

2. VITAMIN D

A steady intake of Vitamin D is advantageous when trying to prevent colon cancer and maintain a healthy colon. You can get Vitamin D from a variety of sources including the sun (15-20 minutes of daily exposure is sufficient) and foods like bread, fatty fish, milk, and cereal. If your foods do not supply enough Vitamin D, taking a supplement may be warranted. Vitamin D may also help prevent osteoporosis.

3. DON’T HOLD IT IN

If you feel like going to the toilet, head for the bathroom and let it go. If you try to hold it in, built-up faecal matter can release toxins into your body, which has the potential to cause diverticulosis and IBS. Regular bowel movement is one of the ways your colon keeps itself clean and healthy.

4. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

Inadequate hydration can lead to a build-up of toxins in the body. As those toxins accumulate, the risk for constipation, bloating, gas, IBS, and fatigue increases. If you're trying to keep your colon healthy, try to drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water in a day to cleanse your body.

5. EXERCISE at least 3 times a week

When you're trying to keep your colon healthy, exercise is a huge part of the equation. By increasing blood flow and circulation through exercise, your colon (and entire gastrointestinal system) gets more oxygen. This may help ward off colon cancer and other diseases. Your fitness routine doesn't need to be extreme. Stretching, doing yoga or walking for 10-15 minutes a day is enough to help keep your colon healthy.

6. COLONOSCOPIES

Although a colonoscopy is by no means a fun experience, it's essential in the prevention and early detection of colon cancer. For individuals over age 50, a colonoscopy is a necessary step in maintaining colon health. Also, ask your doctor about a colonoscopy if you are experiencing on-going diarrhoea or constipation, as these can be signs of colon and intestinal problems. A colonoscopy can aid in proper diagnosis of your condition.

7. CLEANSING YOUR COLON

There are also natural ways to keep your colon clean. Pay a visit to your local alternative medicine centre to learn about the colon-cleansing treatments they have to offer.
Colon flushes are a popular procedure and are believed to wash out toxins and waste material that have become trapped in your colon. If you suffer from constipation, a colon flush can be the best way to regain regular bowel movements and restore your colon's health. With a variety of special herb and mineral infusions available, colon flushes can be tailored to suit your unique needs. Although self-administered colon cleansing kits are available, you should seek advice from a health professional before attempting your first treatment.

(source: https://www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/7-ways-to-maintain-a-healthy-colon)

Instead of drinking plain water, why not try Colon Cleanse Tea Bird Tea? This tea acts as a gentle colon cleanser, perfect evening tea to drink to wind down with at day’s end.

Ingredients:

Organic spearmint, organic burdock root, organic liquorice root, organic fennel seeds, organic fenugreek seeds, organic cardamom pods.

Breakdown of Ingredients and Tea Function

Spearmint	The menthol helps to soothe and relax stomach muscles. Great as a digestive.
Burdock Root	Help our kidneys with elimination of impurities from the blood and assist in the elimination of uric acid. Acts as a mild laxative.
Liquorice Root	Known for its gentle laxative effect on the body.
Fennel Seeds	Removes toxins in the digestion tract and reduce bloating and flatulence.
Fenugreek Seeds	To burn fat and help absorption. Contains mucilaginous fibre which has laxative properties.
Cardamom Pods	As a digestive aid.