Does Fiber Cleanse The Colon?

The colon is a major portion of your large intestine. It is divided into four different regions: ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid. This is the last part of the digestive tract that food passes through before entering into the rectum for excretion. Keeping your colon healthy with fiber can keep your digestive tract regular.

Function

The primary function of the large intestine and colon is to remove the water from the nutrients that the small intestine just passed on to them. At this point, nutrients are considered waste. The only thing the waste has left to give your body is any excess water and electrolytes. It is the job of your large intestine to salvage water and electrolytes left in the waste product moving through it. When digestion is slowed, too much water is re-absorbed and constipation and hard stools can occur. If digestion moves too quickly, not enough water is absorbed and diarrhea can occur.

Types of Fiber

Dietary fiber comes in two forms: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber is called such because it dissolves in water. When you digest it, it turns into a jelly-like substance. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. It is eaten and excreted in exactly the same form. Fiber is never absorbed. In fact, it never even leaves your digestive tract.

Fiber and Colon Cleansing

Fiber can help keep your colon clean and regular. When fiber is inside of your digestive tract, it helps your body rid excess waste. Fiber increases the size of your feces resulting in much of the waste that is left over inside of the colon being excreted. A high fiber diet can help cleanse the colon and keep you regular.

Fiber and Colon Health

Fiber can also increase the health of your colon by preventing diverticulitis and colon cancer. Diverticulitis is a condition in which small protrusions off of your large intestine become infected. A high fiber diet can keep this from occurring by keeping your colon clean and making it easier for you to move your bowels. According to an analysis published in the journal "Gastroenterology" in 2000 by Young-In Kim, M.D., eating a high fiber diet may be enough to help lower your risk of developing colon cancer. A well-rounded diet consisting of 30 to 35g of fiber per day from whole grains, fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk for getting colon cancer. This is encouraging for anyone at high risk of colon cancer.