Keeping a healthy digestive system

CHRONIC constipation is the single greatest cause of having an unclean and unhealthy digestive tract especially from the colon to the rectum region because over time, constipation causes the large intestine (colon) walls to face excessive pressure. Pressure that is created by someone straining to go and by the colon walls creating stronger contractions to help eliminate hard stool. The colon and rectum are collectively referred to as large intestine, which is the last part of our digestive tract. Excessive pressure on the colon walls can cause little pouches called diverticuli to form. Sometimes, small bits of waste material can get lodged in diverticuli causing an emergency and irritable condition called Diverticulitis. This is one of the abdominal diseases that require urgent surgical intervention. In order to experience the best health; an essential requirement is to keep the colon to rectum region clean and healthy. Keeping the colon and rectum clean and healthy provides a number of health benefits. Most importantly is that a clean colon and rectum leads to a lowered risk of developing the colon and rectum cancer, the second or third leading type of cancer in most of the industrialized countries. Other benefits include a lowered risk of experiencing irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, and chronic diarrhea. There is lowered risk of developing hemorrhoids. More efficient absorption of water and minerals. A feeling of lightness, comfort and well being in the abdominal region is another tangible health benefit. Now, we need to think of possible measures that can help keep our large intestine clean. We need to feed on substantial meals. Each time we need to eat substantial meals. Here you stimulate stretch receptors in the stomach that are responsible for triggering normal and mass peristaltic waves throughout the small and large intestines, ensuring regular movement of waste material through the colon and rectum. Also, eating substantial meals allows significant chunks of waste materials to travel together through the colon, turn into well formed stools, and get eliminated from the body in an efficient manner. People should not regularly suppress the urge to have a bowel movement; waste materials spend more time than is optimal in the colon, causing excessive dehydration of waste materials and formation of hard stools. The anus is an exit, and the anal sphincter is not designed to comfortably allow external objects to enter the rectal pouch. The anal sphincter is designed to stretch to allow passing of stools when the rectal pouch accumulates enough waste materials to illicit contraction of its walls. Repeated anal intercourse can lead to a loss in anal sphincter tone, which is likely to lead to incontinence issues immediately and even in the future. Repeated anal intercourse can also lead to repeated injury of the mucosal lining in the rectum, anal canal, and in some cases the distal region of the sigmoid colon. Repeated injury and healing of these areas may increase the risk of developing polyps, which can increase the risk of developing colon and rectum cancer. Water helps to move waste materials along, and is absorbed throughout the entire length of the colon. Insufficient water intake can cause stools to form far before waste materials reach the rectum, which can cause constipation. This does not necessarily mean that a person needs to drink several glasses of water per day. If you eat plenty of water rich plant foods, then you can rely on the sense of thirst to dictate how much water to drink. Eating fiber rich foods adds bulk to the boluses of waste material that travel through the large intestine, and this bulk is essential to the colon’s ability to turn waste materials into well formed stools. A diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains ensures high fiber intake. Adequate vitamin D status significantly lowers the risk of developing all types of cancer, including colon and rectum cancer. When one is not able to get regular exposure to sunlight, look to ensure adequate vitamin D status by eating healthy foods that contain vitamin D. Glands that line the mucosal lining of the colon are responsible for releasing mucous that is needed to lubricate the feces. Vitamin A is needed to maintain the health of these specialized cells that release mucous. It is best to ensure adequate vitamin A status by eating healthy foods that contain vitamin A. josephmunich06@yahoo.co.uk

Health

Keeping a healthy digestive system