# The Final Frontier #
The colon is the last stop in the digestive train. Also called the large intestine, the colon is about 5 feet long. It runs up, across, and then down around your belly. It absorbs the last 10% of water from your food. It also houses a large farm of healthy bacteria. These bacteria ferment the fibre in your food and create good compounds such as vitamin K.
# Crackin’ Windstorms #
This normal fermenting process can create abundant gas---about 1 -2 litres a day. This seems to increase with age. At any age, a backdraft in mixed company gives off bad vibrations. Some fruit and dairy can increase the reverberations because the sugars they have ferment poorly. Artificial sweeteners also seem to feed the fanny frog. Yogurt or a probiotic pill might help quiet the thunder down under as healthy gut bacteria do a better job fermenting.
# Colon Cleanse #
A colon cleanse sometimes involves colon irrigation, which is flushing it with water. This is not necessary as our body is good at removing waste products. Another colon cleanse method is to take pills to flush out the colon. This is also unnecessary. Our body removes waste all on its own, only in extremely rare cases does the colon get clogged up. And in those cases, it becomes obvious. The colon sheds its lining every 72 hours so nothing can stick for long.
# Bupkis Burger #
Sometimes colon cleanses are sold as detox products, but they do nothing for toxins in your cells. Both your liver and kidney work to remove toxins from your body. Some people like the feeling of colon cleanse flushing, but this does not mean it’s helpful. Also, you don’t want to flush away all the healthy gut bacteria working for you in your colon.
# The Self-Cleaning Colon #
The best thing you can do for your colon is to eat a high fibre diet and drink lots of water. That keeps the gut farm in top shape and allows it to function efficiently. Given the tools (fibre and water) your colon is self-cleaning.
# Double Big C #
That’s not to say, ignore your colon. Colon cancer is the second most common cancer, and one of the deadliest. Because of better screening, the rates of colon cancer have dropped dramatically in the last 25 years.
# Intestinal Paparazzi #
check for potential cancer, a colonoscopy is performed. In a colonoscopy, a doctor looks at the inside of the colon with a camera on a flexible tube. If the doctor sees any irregular growths, they will be trimmed off. Many of these growths, called polyps, can slowly develop into cancer if left untreated.
# Cleaning for Inspection #
Although a colonoscopy takes only about an hour, it requires a bit of prep. The day before, you have to drink a special fluid that will cause your lower bowels (colon) to empty---completely. This means you have to park near the bathroom for a while. The colon has to be spic and span so the doctor can look around. A few days before, avoid high-fibre foods that build up bulk. Also the day before, only liquids are allowed. This is when you want to do a complete colon cleanse so it’s ready for inspection.
# An Ounce of Prevention #
As unpleasant as a colonoscopy sounds, it is far less unpleasant than getting colon cancer. Everyone over 50 should have a colonoscopy. If it’s been more than 10 years since you’ve had one, it’s time to schedule one.
