Milk may do your body good, but it could affect your colon if you have certain medical conditions. Your colon is another name for your large intestine, the last part of your digestive system that forces waste through your anus. While many people...
The typical Western diet, high in protein and processed foods and low in fruits, vegetables, and fiber, has led to an increase in health problems related to the gastrointestinal system, particularly the colon. Changing your diet to a...
The colon, or large intestine, is the lower section of the digestive tract that absorbs water and expels waste. When the colon is blocked, inflamed, damaged or narrowed, surgery may be recommended. Colon cancer, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis...
The colon, or large intestine, absorbs water and salts while moving fecal material toward the rectum. Disruption of normal colon structure and function can occur with a variety of medical conditions. Congenital defects, interruption of colonic...
The rectum is the last part of the digestive system, and the colon, which is also called the large intestine, precedes it. Food passes into the colon from the small intestine. Water and nutrients are absorbed into the body, the remaining waste...
Children are vulnerable to a number of problems affecting the colon or large intestine. Some of them are relatively minor and can be easily cured, some require surgery and some have no cure and require dietary management and medication.
If your infant is experiencing diarrhea or constipation, it may be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. These conditions are more common in children, but infants may also experience both conditions. Although these...
You drink a cup of coffee and appreciate the effects it has on increasing awareness and energy, but you realize that your digestive system does not react well to coffee. In addition to increasing alertness, coffee has side effects that may cause...
The good news from research is that diet soft drinks are not associated with increased risk for any form of cancer, including colon cancer. Neither are soft drinks sweetened with sugar. The not-as-good news is that heavy consumption of the...
Although their symptoms are quite similar, a colon blockage --- also known as an intestinal obstruction --- and constipation are entirely different conditions. You may feel as if you're experiencing a blockage, but, as long as you can pass stool...
Diverticulitis is a condition where small pouches called diverticula form in the sigmoid colon. Sometimes these small pouches get inflamed when least expected. When this happens, pain, bloating and constipation can occur. Medical experts do not...
A colonoscopy is a lower gastrointestinal procedure used to examine the colon and rectum for abnormalities. During a colonoscopy, a lighted flexible tube known as a colonoscope is inserted into the rectum and colon and used to examine the lining...
The colon is the part of the intestinal tract that connects the lower stomach to the rectum. This tract is responsible for removing moisture from solid waste before is is excreted from the body. It also absorbs minerals from foods as they are...
Making sure that your colon is healthy and functioning can mean the difference between agonizing digestive problems and digestive comfort. Your colon is responsible for absorbing water and nutrients that were not absorbed by the small intestine...
Research has shown that regular exercise can help prevent problems with the colon, including colon cancer--the most common form of bowel cancer. Because exercise gets your body moving, this also gets the waste in your body moving, ensuring healthy...
Bile, mucous and the colors of the foods you eat can all determine the color of your stool. Brown is considered normal, but if you eat a a diet high in leafy green vegetables or foods with green food coloring, your bowel movements may assume a...
The colon of an adult is approximately 5 ft long and connects to the small intestine. It is responsible for absorbing water and salts from partially digested food and eliminating waste. Many people consume a variety of colon-cleansing supplements...
Body cleansing is the process of removing toxins from the body. Toxins accumulate through metabolism, the environment, the use of drugs or exposure to hazardous substances, according to Andrew Bentley, a clinical herbalist, practicing in...
Colon cleansing can offer many health benefits that will improve the quality and longevity of life and reduce the risks of getting illnesses, including colon cancer. The digestive tract, including the colon, functions as an absorption and...
A colostomy is a surgical procedure that creates a hole or stoma on the abdomen and brings out one end of the colon through the stoma for the purposes of stool expulsion. A colostomy bag is attached to the stoma for stool collection. A colostomy...
A colonoscopy is a medical procedure that helps determine any problems with the colon. Before you have this procedure, you will have to adjust your diet to prepare your colon. Fiber increases the bulk of stool and leads to a larger amount of waste...
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) reports that the colon, also called the large intestine, is approximately five feet long. The main function of the colon is to absorb salt and water to be recycled...
It is not uncommon to feel your intestines shift when you are doing situps. One of the roles your abdominal muscles play is keeping your internal organs in place. The stronger your abdominal muscles become due to situps, the less organ-shifting...
It may seem odd or even uncouth to examine your stool. Your stools, however, often reveal health problems you might otherwise miss. Before you flush, note changes in your stool and tell your doctor about unusual odors or composition, particularly...
Popcorn is a type of corn that resembles corn on the cob, but it has the ability, when heated, to pop into the fluffy snack enjoyed in countless homes and movie theaters. People in the United States eat over 18 billion quarts of popcorn annually,...
The human body consists mostly of water, but for it to function properly, it also needs salt, and the kind of salt that you consume can make the difference in your health. Sea salt is similar to the salty water solution found in all your tissues,...
Constipation and diarrhea are both symptoms of problems within the gastrointestinal tract; neither is a disease in and of itself. Both can lead to serious health complications, but for completely different reasons. Both also have numerous causes,...
Pernicious anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells due to lack of intrinsic factor, which is a stomach protein that helps the body absorb vitamin B-12 from foods. Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that is necessary...
The colon is a muscular organ located at the end of the digestive tract. The primary function of the colon is the reabsorption of water, minerals and electrolytes, and the elimination of waste. The colon, rectum and anal sphincter muscles control...
Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of inflammatory conditions of the large intestine and, in some cases, the small intestine. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are examples. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for...
Spastic Colon is commonly known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which is a problem people have when there are intestinal motility problems. Learn more about the symptoms, prevention, and treatment of this condition in this video.
