About the colon
To fully comprehend the role of the colon, it is necessary first to understand that the digestive tract is the set of organs in the body through which food and liquids pass when they are consumed, digested and eliminated. These organs include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus.
The large intestine consists of the colon and the rectum. The colon is approximately 5-6 feet long and has an ascending, transverse and descending portion. From there, it joins the rectum. It takes food 18 to 24 hours to pass along the full length of the colon.
The main functions of the large intestines are the formation and excretion of faeces, the absorption of water and minerals and beneficial bacteria in the colon manufacture vitamins B1, B2, B12 and K. They also help to prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria.
Cells of the colon secrete mucus, which lubricates and protects the walls. Inflammation or irritation of the intestinal wall leads to the release of large amounts of mucus, as well as water and electrolytes. In this situation, mucus can frequently be seen in the stools and there may also be diarrhoea.
By contrast, if faeces stay in the colon for longer than is desirable, causing constipation, significant amounts of toxins are likely to be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. This is called auto-intoxication or self-poisoning.
Waste matter contains bacteria, so it is vital to get it out of your body as fast as possible. If your colon or rectum isn’t operating efficiently, you will likely experience issues such as bloating, gas and pain.
The digestive system is under pressure to perform vital physiological functions all, everyday. Generally, digestive problems are caused by a toxic build-up in the body, so it can be useful to “flush” the body of all toxic chemicals and waste occassionally. It is widely thought by many health practitioners that one of the most effective means of achieving this is with so-called “colon cleansers”.
What are colon cleansers?
Colon cleansers are a collection of remedies that fall into two overarching categories: oral/rectal supplements and colonic irrigation. As the name insinuates, they are all designed to “cleanse” the colon of toxins and substances that can cause health difficulties and/or accumulation of fat. They are simply food / food form supplements, laxatives or procedures used to rouse the bowels into action, producing a bowel movement. The thinking is that, by encouraging the colon to expel its contents, this helps to rid your body of all the toxins and wastes that have accumulated in the colon.
As mentioned above, the colon is the segment of the digestive tract that stores the waste material that most of us would rather not think about (and often don’t), until our health begins to deteriorate. Eventually, the colon has a proposensity to get clogged with food particles, especially if you ingest a high level of refined foods and low amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables. This can cause an accumulation of parasites and toxins that can have a detrimental effect on your health.
If the colon is repeatedly abused and neglected, it can become a cesspool of toxins. If these are not removed from our bodies, they can keep building up over time and may even be reabsorbed into the body! This can lead to bloating, constipation, irritable bowel symptoms and fatigue.
It is believed by a number of people that colon cleansers can help to manage symptoms of conditions such as constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, chronic fatigue, acid reflux and even skin and hair problems. proponents of colon cleansers also say that they feel “cleaner” and healthier after cleansing, that they experience weight loss and increased bowel regularity.
Colon cleansing is not a new therapy. In fact, colonic irrigation was used by the Egyptians as far back as 1500 BC, was taught in Ancient Greece’s medical schools and was practiced by Chinese medicine more than 3000 years ago. Even then, it was already recognised that water can be a highly effective cleansing agent that purifies, softens and neutralises.
In more recent times (and particularly as a result of the increased pressure placed on our digestive systems by the modern-day diet), colonics and colon cleansing health supplements have seen a spurt in popularity, as possible options that can support digestive health and general well-being.
It is by and large accepted that the colon is an important digestive organ in terms of its influence on our overall health. Colon cleansers have therefore become a popular means of detoxification, ridding the body of harmful parasites that may have found a home in the digestive tract and promoting colon health and a healthy balance of good intestinal flora (probiotics).
With the wide choice of products on the market, it can be difficult to be sure that they are safe and contain only high quality ingredients. If you are contemplating purchasing a colon cleanser, which is supposed to help you detox and clean the body, make sure that such products do not contain any artificial ingredients – which would defeat the whole point!
Specialist Supplements Ltd has a fantastic range of colon cleansers (containing no artificial or synthetic ingredients) for a healthy colon and digestive transit support. The range includes both herbal colon cleansers and powerful, yet gentle oxygenated colon cleansers. Check them out now!
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