The colon is an important part of your body’s digestive system. Here, we take a brief look at colon health, to include summarizing some of the best natural nutrients and herbs which can enable the colon to work smoothly and efficiently.
Why Do I Want a Clean Colon?
The colon is the biggest segment of the large intestine, and serves as the final stage of food digestion. The stages of digestion prior to the colon are where food is broken down and nutrients absorbed into the body. Placed as the final stage of digestion, the colon removes water from food (now stool), absorbs the remaining nutrients, and prepares and forms stool before it exits the body.
The primary way to know if your colon is working properly is to observe the condition of your stool. A healthy colon produces stool which passes easily, and is usually soft and cylindrical in form. Frequent (usually daily) bowel movements are healthy.
Complications with digestion and bowel movements can arise when the colon is not functioning ideally. Issues with digestion include constipation, dry and difficult-to-pass stools, stools that are too loose, of which have blood in the stool. These can occur due to minor and transient causes, but you should talk to your healthcare provider if any of these symptoms persist. Regular bowel issues can be a sign of colon dysfunction.
Supplements to Promote a Clean Colon
Various herbs and nutrients have the power to support the work of the colon. Consider how these supplements can contribute to a healthy approach to maintaining your colon health:
Magnesium is an important mineral for your health. Among its many roles is that of helping to maintain colon health. Magnesium helps the walls of the colon to relax, which encourages regular bowel movements. If you want to keep your colon clean & efficient, you probably can’t go wrong supplementing with magnesium.
Dandelion, burdock, and ginger are three herbs which are all bitter in taste and therefore known as “bitters.” Bitters encourage digestion in a couple of ways. First, these herbs stimulate the digestive system to produce the juices which do the work of digesting. They also support efficient peristalsis, the repeated muscle contractions which moves food through the digestive tract. These bitter herbs work well together. For this reason, an herbal supplement for colon & digestion which contains these three herbs (and maybe more) is an excellent choice.
Psyllium husk: Psyllium plants are native to India, and their husks are rich in natural fiber. It is a soluble fiber which supports effective digestion, and can treat constipation. When it dissolves in water, psyllium husk forms a gel-like substance which slows down digestion, increases the solidity of stools, and stimulates the digestive tract to expel them.
Probiotics: Consuming probiotic bacteria in supplement form will introduce them to the gut. In turn, the colon and gut microbiome are made healthier as a whole. This can result in reduced inflammation and increased bowel efficiency.
Senna is an herb which is counted among the strongest herbal laxatives. A natural laxative is a good choice if and when other natural digestion aids aren’t quite enough. If you encounter particularly persistent constipation, then supplementing with 1-2,000mg of senna can help the colon to empty itself.
It is worth it to prioritize the health of your colon. To do so, consider how supplementing with one or more of the herbs and nutrients listed above could help you. It’s recommended that you talk to your healthcare provider before taking a new supplement.