Time For Number Twos

There is so much information about the do’s and don’ts, the how to, the how many, the shapes, the sizes and smells of poos, yet, lets be fair, no one wants to really talk about it. But the bowel plays an extremely important role in many aspects of our health that it simply can not be ignored.

For optimum health, the bowel should move every single day. The amount of waste matter that ends up in the bowel (the colon is approx. 5ft long on average) is between 3 and 5 kg every day. It is not only food (remember most of the food you ingest is not absorbed into the body as it only needs the microscopic nutrients in the food fibre) that ends up in the colon on a daily basis; it is also all the dying body cells and waste that ends up in the colon. In other words it gets very full each day and thus should be emptied daily. If foods stay in the bowel too long bowel bacteria etc. can start to become imbalanced bringing unpleasant side affects.

Healthy bowel movements are those that allow you to empty your colon often enough that you don’t feel bloated or in pain, and you don’t have to strain hard to get the job done. Much can be learned about your overall health by the shape, size, smell and colour of your faeces, which is made up of undigested food, bacteria, mucous and dead cells.

Sadly however there are millions of visits to doctors each year for gastrointestinal and bowel conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's, colitis, constipation, leaky gut and bowel cancer; one of the highest rates in the world. The good news is maintaining good colon health is easy, and the things that are good for your colon are also good for your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, skin, hair, and overall well-being.

If you do experience uncomfortable bowel movements, or they become irregular, don’t ignore the situation. It could simply be your diet is lacking fibre, you’re dehydrated or not getting enough exercise. Vacations and other types of travelling can cause changes in your bowel habits as you are often eating different types of food, not moving as much and are out of your usual bathroom routine. Another common reason is medications as many of these can have a side-effect of constipation.

To keep the digestive process working smoothly, try to include daily servings of fruits and vegetables and high-fibre grains, good oils, water, remember to move, exercise regularly, keep a healthy weight and limit alcohol, caffeine and smoking.

To bolster your daily routine you can also add in natural supplements such as Nature’s Sunshine Lower Bowel Support. This gentle formula is designed to support bowel regularity, digestive and liver function, helps cleanse and detoxify toxins and parasites and aids symptoms of intestinal discomfort.