Know the Basics of Colon Cleansing

Before you start choosing a colon cleanse product it is a good idea to learn a little about the colon and digestive system in general. This page will discuss what the colon is, how it works, how toxins affect your body and how you can have a more efficiently working colon with a cleansing product.

The Colon

The colon is a hollow tube about five feet long and two to three inches in diameter. The colon is the gateway between your small intestine, rectum and anus. The primary function of the colon is to collect nutrients and fluids from digested material, turn the remnants into stool and then eliminate them from the body. The colon interior is moist which helps with stool movement and protects the tissues and nerves that are on the inside of the colon.

A good colon will have two to three bowel movements a day. Hormones, neural messaging and muscle impulses are all responsible for colon motility. Although we are routinely exposed to large amounts of toxins, chemicals and bacteria which cause waste to build up in the colon. If the interior of the colon becomes blocked by fecal matter and waste then nutrients can’t be efficiently absorbed and waste is not eliminated appropriately. If a colon is functioning properly it can lead to weight gain, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue and sickness. Nearly 50 million Americans are believed to have problems with their digestive tract which means it is a common problem that many experience.

 The Impact of Toxins

Every day we put foods into our body that contain chemicals, pesticides and petrochemicals. There are even contaminates in the air we breathe. The human body does what it can to deal with all this exposure. However, so many toxins are consumed that our organs can easily become overworked. When this happens the body isn’t able to completely eliminate the poisons. If you are suffering from a toxic overload you may have some of the following symptoms: weight gain, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, mood swings, weakened immune system and stress.