Colon Care for Optimal health

The human colon is an interesting though usually neglected organ; yet it’s vital for maintaining a healthy body. The basic anatomy of the colon is as follows: the Ascending Colon (found on the right side of abdomen, near the liver, and extends from the stomach), the Transverse Colon (also near to the liver, in proximity to the spleen), the Descending Colon (connects the sigmoid colon to the splenic flexure), and the Sigmoid Colon (so-named because of its "S" shape and also a part of the large intestine, found between the descending colon and rectum).

Each of these sections performs a slightly different function. The Ascending Colon extends from the stomach and therefore is the first section encountered after initial digestion begins. Next, the Transverse Colon is actually slightly mobile because it is attached by a band of tissue called the "greater omentum." This may contribute to a churning action as food continues across the abdominal cavity to go down the Descending Colon. Finally, the Sigmoid Colon has muscular walls that contract to increase pressure to pass stool. The sporadic pressure that the sigmoid colon creates can inadvertently cause pockets to develop, and this can potentially lead to infection when particles of undigested food become trapped in these diverticuli (as the pockets are also known).

The truth is—an unhealthy colon can lead to a number of ailments, ranging from skin problems to chronic fatigue, severe headaches, or even cancer.

Probably first on everyone’s list of tummy troubles is constipation! Perhaps the most common sign of impaired colon health, constipation is generally attributed to a low fiber diet and lack of water intake.

"Constipation" means the transit time of waste matter (the time it takes to pass solids completely through the body) is abnormally slow and/or straining is necessary (leading to hemorrhoids, varicose veins, hiatal hernia, etc.). Extended transit time also means toxic waste matter remains inside longer; and this allows foods to decay in your gut. Continual constipation can lead to a host of serious health conditions such as allergies, chronic fatigue, diminished immune response, excess gas, headaches, joint and muscle pain, loss of appetite, nausea, recurrent or severe constipation, and even sleep disorders.

First, consume more fiber and purified water. A deficiency of either promotes constipation. However, the best method for reducing constipation (i.e. colon cleansing) will be covered in an upcoming section.

As scary as the idea may be, your colon is the perfect breeding ground for unwanted intruders. Up to 60% of the world’s population may have parasites in their bodies and not know it! Owning a pet, drinking or bathing in contaminated water, or consuming exposed fruits, vegetables, and especially meat (where insects like to lay eggs) can increase your risk of infestation.

With parasites, you may not realize the underlying cause, but you can experience symptoms such as anal itching, bad breath, bloating, blood anemia, coughing, cravings for carbs/sweets, excess gas, fever, general irritability, improperly functioning intestines, lack of energy, memory problems, vision difficulties, and unexplained weight gain.

Unfortunately, no accurate "infection tests" have been developed, so you should cleanse your colon to help eliminate pests. Creating an unwelcoming environment for these intruders (by getting rid of the inviting, toxic waste matter) can help protect your colon health.

You should also be aware of illnesses of the digestive tract. Recognizing the symptoms is always the first step to receiving proper treatment; but what are some of the more common disorders and their characteristics?

Colon Polyps – "bubble-like" protrusions from the colon wall that can become infected. While colon polyps are usually benign (non-cancerous) and present no symptoms, they can point to colon cancer. Polyps are removed during a routine colonoscopy.

Diverticulosis - caused by the mucosa lining not receiving enough blood from the arterioles. Weakened muscles in the colon lead to "out-pocketing" in the lining. In about 80% of cases, Diverticulosis is not problematic. In the remaining 20%, however, bleeding, pain, and inflammation may occur.

Crohn’s Disease – a narrow lumen causes chronic inflammation. Difficult to diagnose, Crohn’s Disease most commonly affects the last portion of the small intestine or the colon but it can affect any part of the digestive tract. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramping, weight loss, anal pain, bloating, rectal abscess, skin lesions, joint pain, and fissures.

Ulcerative Colitis - an inflammation of the innermost lining of the rectum and colon, affecting primarily people under age 30. Symptoms include abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, or fevers resulting from tiny ulcers on the colo-rectal lining.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - also referred to as spastic colon, IBS causes acute, combined, or alternating bouts of constipation or diarrhea. Dietary changes have successfully reduced or even eliminated the symptoms (likely caused by severe sensitivity) which include abdominal cramps, fever, and nausea.

Diverticular Disease - characterized by inflammation of pockets along the colon wall, and believed to be caused by a low-fiber diet (leading to increased pressure needed to expel waste). Symptoms include lower-left abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea, and sometimes rectal bleeding.

A sedentary lifestyle inhibits natural colon movement so fecal matter is retained too long. Regular exercise can tone the bowels to help prevent constipation.

The high preservative content in modern, processed foods destroys your digestive enzymes. The best colon diet is one consisting primarily of raw organic vegetables and fruit, and plenty of nuts, seeds, and legumes. Avoid drinking dehydrating liquids such as coffee, colas, and alcoholic beverages and limit fatty foods and dairy products such as red meat, milk, cheese, and sweets.

Every day your body is bombarded with millions of toxins from alcohol, caffeine (coffee, colas, etc.), chorine and fluoride-poisoned drinking water, cigarette/cigar smoke, exposure to heavy metals and EM (electro-magnetic) radiation, genetically modified (GMO) foods and beverages, hormone-injected meat and dairy products, industrial chemicals, microwaved foods, MSG (monosodium glutamate), parasites, pesticides, polluted air and water, prescription drugs, refined sugar and artificial sweeteners, soy, stress, table salt, and white flour (just like you use in baking).

Over 90% of these toxins enter your body through the intestinal tract and from there they enter your bloodstream and begin to permeate and damage every living cell, organ, and biological system in your body, including the colon and its immuno-response factors. So what is the solution?

A thorough colon cleansing is the best way to eliminate toxic waste matter from the colon. Even occasional colon cleansing can reduce gas, bloating, fatigue, and other problems. Keeping things working well in your stomach and colon can benefit your health in so many ways. Would you like to enjoy additional oxygen in the bloodstream, balanced pH, better vitamin and nutrient absorption from foods, clearer skin, decreased cravings for bad foods, easier and more frequent bowel movements, headache and body ache reduction, increased beneficial bacteria, increased energy, reduced bloating and gas, reduced constipation and bowel problems, reduced food allergies, reduced halitosis, reduced harmful bacteria, and getting rid of all that toxic, compacted waste?

Why are these claims true?

Simple—colon cleansing removes impacted waste lining the intestinal tract, so you are, in fact, detoxifying your body. Performing a thorough 6 or 7-day cleanse can really improve your health!

You can cleanse your colon with several methods:

Enemas – a short tube inserted into the rectum flushes out waste with water. This method can be uncomfortable, messy, and potentially harmful; and it cleanses only the first several inches of the colon.

Herbal Supplements & Laxatives – merely stimulates the bowels to induce an artificial movement. These substances promote dependency and many herbs can cause dangerous allergic reactions.

Hydrotherapy (Colonics) – also utilizes water to wash out waste but can cleanse the entire colon. This method should only be performed by a qualified hydrotherapist.

Oxygen-Based Intestinal Cleansers – by far the best method as the natural health supplement cleanses the entire digestive tract safely and effectively with none of the other methods’ side effects or dangers. Oxygen based cleansers break down compacted waste for easy elimination from your body.

Simply counting your bowel movements is not an effective gauge of your cleansing results, as everyone varies in this regard. Nonetheless, first note the consistency of your stool—a dark, shiny appearance indicates sludge and mucus has been removed. Second, you may lose some weight due to flushing out accumulated, hardened waste matter. Last, you should begin to have more frequent and easier-to-pass bowel movements. This is the best indicator that you’ve achieved improved colon health and you can experience an increased sense of overall vitality and wellbeing from successful cleansing!

DR. EDWARD F. GROUP III, DC, ND, DACBN, founded Global Healing Center, Inc. to help heal and educate the world by providing knowledge about intestinal and body cleansing, organic living, and the causes and prevention of disease via its websites and his new book Health Begins In The Colon. Although he no longer sees patients directly, Dr. Group maintains his many certifications and is extremely active in the natural healthcare community.

"I have personally witnessed people eliminating practically every disease from their bodies and regaining superior health after thoroughly cleansing internally and detoxifying their living and work environments. I am confident Health Begins In The Colon will provide you with the tools you need to live a long, healthy, and happy life."