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.

Suggested Reading

• What is colon disease?
• What are common colon problems that you can experience?
• How Do Pumpkin Seeds Cleanse Parasites?
• The use of Psyllium Husk for Colon Cleansing
• What are the affects of prolonged Candida infections?
• How can you safely cleanse your colon?
• What Foods Promote Constipation?
• What are probiotics?

First, what is the colon?

The colon is a tube shaped structure that goes from the where the small intestine ends and extends down to the anus.  In an adult, it measures 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.

There are four main diseases of the colon, including Diverticulitis, ulcercerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and polyps.  Although they all affect your colon and your digestion, you may experience different symptoms for each condition.

Diverticulitis occurs when pockets inside the colon bulge outward and the pockets become infected.  The most common symptoms of diverticulitis is abdominal pain and tenderness along the left side of the lower abdomen.  Additionally, if this condition advances to a severe infection, which is possible, you can have a fever, nausea, vomiting and cramping.  These symptoms can become severe if your infection increases without treatment.

The treatment for diverticulitis is likely a high fiber diet to help improve your waste elimination and pain medications.  If the condition is serious, it may require a surgery.  Diverticulitis can be caused by constipation and may have some genetic factors.

Ulcerative colitis is another disease that causes inflammation and sores.  These sores are called ulcers.  An ulcer occurs when inflammation kills the cells that line the colon.  The ulcers can bleed and produce pus inside your body.  These symptoms are similar to Crohn’s disease, so it may be a problem to diagnose between the two.  Ulcers may also be hereditary or can also be stress related or related to other medical conditions.

The most common symptom for ulcerative colitis is abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea.  You can develop this condition at any age, but it can usually start at ages 15 to 30 or 50 to 70.  The treatment for colitis depends on the severity and usually includes drug therapy, usually surgery is not required.

Similarly with Crohn’s disease, you develop inflammation usually is the lower part of the small intestine.  The symptoms of Crohn’s are abdominal pain in the lower right abdomen and diarrhea, similar to ulcerative colitis.  The treatment again is usually drug therapy and possible nutritional vitamins or supplements.  And as always, surgery is a possibility as the condition advances.

Finally, another colon disease you can develop is polyps.  Polyps are abnormal growths that develop throughout the body.  These polyps are not visible and usually aren’t detected until you are checking for some other condition or problem you are having.  However, there are symptoms, which include bleeding from the anus or blood in the stool.  Some polyps may be found to be cancerous.  To remove a polyp, you usually will have to undergo a surgical procedure.

Suggested Reading

• What causes colon problems?
• The Colon Health Diet
• What are probiotics?
• What is a colonic?
• Why is Fiber so Important for Your Colon?
• How Can Foods Heal Your Colon