Colon Overview
Life in today’s world has changed drastically. Industrial revolution has brought in many changes in the way food products are grown, acquired and processed leading to alterations in the dietary habits. Increased availability of processed food that is devoid of the natural ingredients has decreased the amount of nutrients available for our body. Along with alterations in the dietary practices various other issues are also on the rise. This includes stress levels, lack of healthy activities, lack of exercise and physical activities and acquiring habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption. All these have a cumulative effect on the overall health of an individual and that of the colon also. Numerous efforts are now being made to inculcate healthy living practices and prevent the occurrence of various disorders that lead to life threatening situations in many cases.
How Is My Lifestyle Affecting My Colon?
Your lifestyle includes dietary practices, amount of physical activity you are involved in, the amount of stress you undergo and harmful habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption.
Dietary Practices
The foods that do not have adequate nutritional values are being consumed in larger quantities than those with significant amount of essential nutrients. This leads to a deficiency in the body and also results in various disorders. Fruits and vegetables have various factors that act as antioxidants and prevent the occurrence of various disorders including cancers. Increased consumption of oily foods and foods with high fat content are commonly associated with increased risk of disorders of the heart and cancers in general. Absence of enough roughage in the diet alters the functioning of the colon with increased incidence of bowel disorders. A direct relation between intake of fibrous food and the risk of colon cancer and colon diverticula was noted in a study wherein it was noted that the increase in the intake of fibrous foods decreased the risk of occurrence of colon disorders.
Physical Activity
Lack of physical activity affects health in general. The amount of food being metabolized in our body is reduced leading to accumulation of unhealthy factors and toxins in our body. Adequate amount of physical activity is necessary for the complete absorption of food that we consume and normal bowel habits. The risk of different cancers including that of colon is notably reduced in individuals who exercise on a regular basis. Lack of physical activity increases the risk of you becoming overweight or obese which in turn is considered as a risk factor for multiple disorders. Exercise seems to benefit the body by decreasing the occurrence of atherosclerosis, increasing sensitivity to insulin and decreasing inflammatory reactions in the body.
Age
Increasing age may have its effect on the colon function. As age progresses many of the organs in our body begin to slow down. Proper care is required to help the colon function normally in late adulthood. A well planned diet which has all the essential nutrients and fibrous foods is required to maintain the functioning of the colon. Older individuals are also prone to certain disorders of the colon which may affect its function. In case of babies and younger children, the colon is in the development stages which require proper planning of the diet.
Stress
Increased stress levels frequently result in flaring of colon disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Increased stress may release certain hormones that increase the inflammatory response in our body. Various other disorders such as heart disorders, diabetes and hypertension have also been linked to increased stress levels. Stress may further lead to altered dietary patterns, decreased physical activity and increased chances of smoking and alcohol consumption. This can have an indirect response on the occurrence of colon disorders or flaring up of the symptoms of colon disorders.
Habits
Smoking and alcohol consumption have been associated with increased occurrence of colon disorders, especially colon cancers. The effects of smoking and alcohol consumption are dose-dependent wherein the risk of colon cancer increases as the number of drinks consumed per day or the number of cigarettes smoked per day increases.
Some Tips To Prevent Colon Disorders
- Eat a balanced diet regularly; ensure that your diet consists of adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables and other essential nutrients
- Exercise regularly
- Join relaxation classes if you are constantly under stress
- Stop smoking and alcohol consumption
- Avoid smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol
- Undergo periodic check-ups if you are aged above 50 years
Read more
colon health articles
