The colon, which is also called your large intestine, is the last five feet of your digestive system. After food passes through your small intestine, it goes through your colon and makes sure that it absorbs excess water and electrolytes your small intestine might have missed. Because of this, your body stays hydrated and healthy. Your colon also houses almost 60 kinds of good bacteria that defend your body by preventing the bad bacteria from stealing nutrients.
How do I return the favor and take care of my colon?
How do I return the favor and take care of my colon?
- Eat healthy. Lessen your animal fat and protein consumption and make sure to eat a lot of grains, fruits, and vegetables.
- Two glasses, tops. Make sure you do not go overboard with your alcohol consumption (the American Cancer Society actually recommends no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women).
- Sweat it out. Keep a regular exercise schedule and watch your weight, because physical inactivity can be consequential to your colon.
- The golden age. More than 90% of Colon cancer occurs to people 50 years old and above.
- Family history. But if you have a first degree relative with either colon cancer or an adenomatous polyp, don’t wait until you’re 50 and start your regular screening by the age of 40, or at least 10 years younger than the affected relative.
- Existing digestive disorders. If you have Inflammatory Bowel Disease such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, you are more vulnerable to Colon cancer.