Health Check

How well do you know your poo?

Most people don't know that chronic diseases begin from what we put into our body - most of which goes into the digestive tract - and how well it is processed to exit the body. "We are what we eat," may sound elementary, yet this simple truth deserves immediate attention if we plan to live a long, healthy life.

If food is properly digested and absorbed into the blood stream, it then must be utilised by a tissue cell somewhere for it to be of any value in the body. We call this assimilation.

But if food is not properly digested, nutrients are not absorbed, toxic waste builds - and your body becomes ripe for disease.

The highly processed and refined foods common in today's diets lack active enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, healthy oils, and fibre to properly nourish and exercise the colon for health. When these foods pass through the system too slowly and sit for days at a time, toxins in the waste are reabsorbed back into the body - and the disease process begins...

Signs your colon is setting you up for disease

Common symptoms of poor digestive health are constipation, diarrhoea, cramps, or bloating. Less obvious problems that may develop from an inefficient colon include lack of energy, respiratory and allergy problems, bad breath, acne, and skin dryness. And finally, this condition can ultimately lead to non-cancerous polyps, ulcerative colitis, or even worse, cancer.

But many don't know how to assess their colon health because they don't understand how well their digestive system should be working in the first place. You can find out by asking yourself these three questions...

Are you constipated?

Having bowel movements less than twice a day is considered constipation. Ideally you should have a bowel movement for every meal. That may sound like a lot to you but it's not. It should happen like clockwork as well, because your body doesn't need to hold a toxic load for hours...

Stool has a very high bacteria count, carries the metabolic wastes that are fat soluble, and contains the chemicals that have been dumped there by the liver for elimination. These toxic wastes must be eliminated, or they get reabsorbed back through the colon into the blood stream again, which is called enterohepatic re-circulation.

Therefore, when faeces stagnate in the large intestine the proteins that are present will putrefy, the carbohydrates ferment, and the fats and oils go rancid. This gives rise to unhealthy bacteria that grow and form more toxins.

Diarrhoea can occur during constipation, which many are surprised to learn. So if you experience diarrhoea, it's not safe to assume you are not constipated.

Do you have bloating, gas, or excessive fullness after meals?

As the 'garbage' builds without it being emptied, then gases and other unhealthy organisms build, too. The quantities and types of intestinal bacteria, yeast, and stool pH can dramatically alter intestinal and colon health, which directly influences nutrient absorption.

Gas is also a sign that certain foods cannot be broken down well and therefore become substrate for gas-producing bacteria. This is a sure sign of inadequate digestive enzyme function or inadequate stomach acid for the types of foods present.

Is your stool healthy?

It not pleasant, but the next time you have a bowel movement, take a look at what you've produced. They way your stool looks, including colour, texture and how it treads water says a lot about your colon health.

Normal stool is medium to light brown in colour, smooth, soft and s-shaped. It should be about 1 to 2 inches in diameter and up to 18 inches long. It should fall quietly and gently into the toilet basin, and sink slowly.

Unhealthy stool is difficult to pass and may even cause discomfort. It may come out as hard lumps or pieces, mushy bits or narrow strips.

Pay special attention to the colour of your stool. Determine which of these categories it falls into-each of which warrants a health assessment:

Black and tarry or bright red: Certain medications, supplements and even black liquorice can turn your stools black. But it can also be a sign of bleeding in your GI tract.

White, pale or gray stools: Stools that match these colours may be indicative of a lack of bile, which can be the result of a serious problem, like hepatitis, pancreatic disorders or a blocked bile duct. Antacid can also make your stools white.

Yellow stools: This colour may indicate that you're suffering from giardia infection, a gallbladder problem, or a condition known as Gilbert's syndrome.

If you pass the stool colour test, but don't feel the texture and size are quite right, you may be mildly constipated.

Rebuilding your colon health

A colon cleanse should be your starting point for rebuilding a healthy colon. Some people literally carry pounds of waste around in their colon. Imagine how many people are trying desperately to lose weight dieting when in fact, what they truly need is a good old-fashioned colon cleanse. The health benefits would be felt almost immediately.

An intestinal flush is the most effective way to clean out the colon. Next make dietary changes to include whole grains, raw fruits, and vegetables. The fibre from these foods creates mass that passes through the system more quickly and easily.

Once you understand what the colon needs to be healthy, then the use of natural whole foods and therapies becomes easy - and so does health.

-Easy Health Option