Don't Blame Poor Colon Health On Genetics

Did you know that your colon is your body's main means of eliminating solid waste? So if there is a problem in your colon, then what other option does the body have? None. This is why having an unhealthy colon leads to such widespread problems throughout your body. If there is any slowing or stoppage inside your colon, there will be both short-term and long-term negative health consequences in a wide variety of your other bodily systems. But is having an unhealthy colon related to genetics or is it the result of poor diet?

We are starting to rediscover how important genetics are in relation to our health. Do you remember your most recent visit to your doctor? He probably spent more of your time asking you about your parents, your grandparents, and their symptoms than he spent asking you about you and your symptoms. There is a good reason behind this. A large number of the diseases that ail us today have links to genetics. That means that when somebody in your family has had a particular physical condition, there is a strong chance that you may have inherited a high risk for that same physical condition.

We would all love to live in a world where we could blame all of our problems on someone else, a world where we could do anything but take the blame, but here, the truth is that having an unhealthy colon is more than likely the end result of maintaining a poor diet, not of genetics. If your colon functions poorly, it was probably caused by the choices you made when you ate. When you notice that most of the bad colon health today is located in the more developed countries of the world, you can begin to see just what's going on.

The very best diet for your colon is a natural diet. The more natural a food is, the more easily digested it is by our bodies. So the more manmade ingredients you add and the more processed food products get, the more difficult digesting them becomes. That means that when this unnatural food is passed into your colon from your small intestine (which is where most of your digestion is supposed to occur), what is left isn't fully digested. So your colon has more problems trying to deal with it.

There is another cause for unhealthy colons: the higher levels of toxins within our modern environment. There are many people in the world today living a comfortable life which was made possible by lots of technology and industrialization. Unfortunately for them, the price of all that comfort and ease is a higher level of toxins in the air and food and materials which is created by those manmade products and those industrial processes. All of these toxins get absorbed by the body while we breathe our comfortable air, through our skin as we wear our comfortable clothes, and in the foods we eat, cheaply, quickly, and comfortably made. Our bodies are well-designed and adaptable, but they were never meant to have to deal with the peak level of toxins we constantly face today.

Since an unhealthy colon comes from a poor diet, we need to figure out what the best diet is to get a healthy colon. The two most important words in that diet are fiber and water. Getting more fiber means adding more plant-based foods to your diet. If you eat more vegetables, more whole grains, more fruits, and more nuts, then you'll get more fiber. Since fiber is non-digestible, it will still be present in the mostly-digested waste matter that passes through to the colon. It will help to keep water in the colon, making your stools softer and easier to pass. The new fiber in your diet also provides roughage which the colon can "grab." Waste is sent through your colon by the muscular action called peristalsis. Fiber can help to stimulate and strengthen these wave-like muscular contractions which shift waste matter through your colon.

A good way to begin improving the health of your colon and to start your new healthy diet off right is to get a colon cleanse. There are many natural colon cleaners available in health food stores, in vitamin stores, and online, and these products provide colon cleansing that will remove old fecal matter and help to restore your colon to more effective operation.

If you drink an appropriate amount of water, it will not only put more moisture in your body, but it will also help to flush out those nasty toxins. The rule of thumb is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. But there is a better rule, one that can help you to come up with a more specific, personalized amount: take your body weight in pounds, then divide it in half, and then drink that many ounces of water per day. So if you weigh 140 pounds, for example, you ought to drink 70 ounces of water per day (140 divided by 2 equals 70).

Fluids which you can drink can include herbal teas and some fruit juices, in addition to water. But any drinks with caffeine actually have a dehydrating effect on your body, so you can't really count them in your daily totals. You should also avoid any drinks with sugar, especially those which contain high fructose corn syrup.

Doctors are continuing to discover connections between colon health and overall physical health every day. There are numerous colon-related diseases, particularly colon cancer, which have been connected with having an unhealthy colon. Connections to other diseases in the body, including breast cancer, liver problems, and brain function, are gaining support from research with each day that passes. Considering how serious and hazardous these many consequences can be, there is no reason not to put a high priority on taking responsibility for your colon health. There are numerous natural alternative foods available, so go ahead and fix your diet and improve your overall colon health. There is a very high chance that it will help you live a longer better life.