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Tired? Irritable? Overweight? Has your health and general feeling of well-being diminished over the years? A colon cleansing program may be the first step to improving how you feel by eliminating the toxins that could be the source of your problem.

Digestive experts are often quoted saying, 'Death begins in the colon.' Could they be right? According to a discussion of 57 leading physicians held before the Royal Society of Medicine of Great Britain, it is true. Their conclusion was that nearly every known chronic disease is either directly or indirectly linked to the more than 35 bacterial poisons absorbed through the intestines. Technically called alimentary toxemia, it is also referred to as a toxic colon.

It is likely that most people wouldn't connect their headaches, depression, or heart trouble to a toxic colon, but in fact, this is exactly what the statement by the Royal Society of Medicine suggests. In order to appreciate this connection, and see why constipation is such a dangerous condition, it is important to understand how the colon works.

The colon, also known as the large intestine or lower bowel, is an approximately five-foot long tube that is found at the final portion of our digestive tract. By the time food wastes reach the large intestine, the majority of nutrients have been absorbed, and what is left is primarily fibrous waste and toxins destined for elimination. The colon is benefited by the fiber in our diet, and we are encouraged by digestive experts to eat between 20-35 grams of it per day. Unfortunately, most Americans get about half of that, and the regularity of their bowels is suffering.

We can view the colon as the sewer system of the body, as it effectively 'flushes' waste from our system at an optimal rate of 2-3 times every day. Most naturopathic physicians define constipation as fewer than 2 bowel movements per day. When we are constipated, wastes are able to stick around longer than necessary and be acted upon by pathogenic bacteria. The Royal Society of Medicine refers to the byproducts of this interaction as bacterial poisons. When putrefied material stays in the colon longer than it should, these toxins have more time to enter the bloodstream through the intestinal cells that line the colon.

When digestion is poor and bowel movements are infrequent, toxins can enter the bloodstream and settle into the tissues, causing a wide range of complaints, from headaches to fatigue. Additionally, constipation can lead to a build-up of toxic material on the intestinal walls, resulting in reduced nutrient absorption or malabsorption, which deprives the body of nutrients needed to create energy and vitality.

Fortunately, you have the power to improve the health of your intestinal tract through colon cleansing. Working with your body's own natural elimination processes, you can promote the detoxification of your bowel, and achieve 2-3 bowel movements per day. One of the easiest options we have to promote this process is through increased consumption of high fiber foods.

Fiber is the indigestible parts of plants. There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber is found in foods such as fruit pectin. It dissolves in water, forming a gel, and absorbs water soluble materials such as cholesterol and excess toxins. It also provides food for intestinal flora, promoting a healthy intestinal environment. By absorbing liquids, soluble fiber can also help form our stool. Insoluble fiber is also known as roughage. This is found in foods such as bran and fibrous fruits and vegetables. This type of fiber provides bulk to the bowel, sweeping clean the intestinal wall, and helping to promote regularity.
Experts everywhere are calling on us to eat more fiber so we can begin to receive the benefits to a healthy digestive system. By increasing our fiber consumption, we can promote a healthy colon and the elimination of toxins. With the small amount of fiber people consume every day, supplementation is an easy and convenient solution.