Assortment of High Fiber Foods

The colon is a very important part of your digestive system and your waste elimination.  The colon is a tube shaped structure that starts where the small intestine ends and extends down to the anus.  In an adult, it can be approximately 5 feet long.  The job of the colon is to remove water and nutrients from your food and store the rest as waste, moving it out of your system.  And unfortunately, there are many problems that can plague the colon.  These problems can range from inflammation in the colon to colon cancer.

The cause of colon problems is unclear, but can range from an infection to genetics.

One common colon problem is colitis, which is simply inflammation of the colon.  This inflammation alone can be caused by many different conditions.  To explain a few, it can be caused by bacteria entering the colon, such as with a food poisoning.  Second, you could have inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis, which can lead to inflammation.  Third you can suffer from Crohn’s disease, which can cause inflammation.

As relates to each of these colon conditions, they may be caused by various other things.  A common digestive problem related to the colon is irritable bowel syndrome or IBS.  There is no known cause for IBS, but there has been speculation.  It is thought that the symptoms of IBS may be caused by food allergies or sensitivities, stress or genetics.

Diverticulitis is caused by increased pressure in the intestinal wall.  As you get older, the layers of the intestinal walls thicken and narrow.  Because of this, the feces move more slowly through the colon.

Another cause of many digestive and bowel problems is diet.  A healthy diet is important in all aspects of life; however it can be vital to your bowels and digestive system.  It is important to have a diet high in fiber which helps with regular bowel movements.

The cause of ulcerative colitis is also unknown.  There are risk factors, which have been considered as possible causes.  One of these is genetics, as there is a high degree of symptoms between family members, especially a first degree relative like a parent or sibling.

Once you figure out the cause of your pain and problem, you should do what you can to prevent it from reoccurring.  For example, it has been studied and proven that certain foods can lead to irritable bowel syndrome.  If this is your case, then you should remove those foods entirely from your diet.

Additionally, there are simple preventative measures you can take.  These would include eating a high fiber diet.  Fiber promotes regular bowel movements and can help prevent constipation.  Drink plenty of water, which can help with regular bathroom visits.  Avoid the use of laxatives.  Laxatives can make problems worse, as they may interfere with regular bowel activities.

There are many causes of bowel and colon problems.  The key is to attempt to narrow down your cause and try to prevent it from occurring on a regular basis.