We’re almost there my friends.  The second last installment of my 6 Part Series all about those wonderful detox organs of ours that support our body’s natural detoxification process.

 

Again, let me repeat myself – this is our body’s natural detoxification process – it does this all my itself, but sometimes needs a little support and love along the way.

 

Missed Part I, II, III and IV – never fear – they’re right here, here, here and here!

 

These six detoxification organs work non-stop to eliminate excess waste products and toxins from our body, and in this little series, I’m talking about my personal top 4 foods, that in conjunction with an overall healthy diet, have shown they have the wonderful ability to further support this amazing process.

 

so today we’re talking about - the colon!

 

The colon is an organ that is part of the digestive tract and is often called the large intestine or the large bowel.

 

When food enters our body, it's digested mostly in the small intestine (where all of the vitamins and minerals are taken out) where it then moves into the colon.  It’s in here that the water is removed from the food and the bacteria in the colon helps break it down, preparing it to leave the body.

 

Think you may have colon toxicity, then you may be experiencing some of the following symptoms - bloating, constipation, gas, fatigue, food cravings, hypoglycemia, allergies, arthritis and difficulty losing weight.

 

When healthy, we should be having 2 - 3 bowel movements per day, shortly after each meal and elimination should be complete, fast and easy.  Our stool should be light brown in colour, long and large in diameter, fluffy in texture, and floating on the top of the water.  Yep - I went there!

 

4 practices that helps support our colon

 

 

Fibre | A diet high in both soluble and insoluble fibre can help to slow the emptying time of the stomach and move faeces through the intestines quicker by bulking it up.

 

Trigger Foods | Many foods in our western diet can trigger inflammation, so removing them can allow our body time to rest and heal.  This can include processed foods and sugar, refined carbs, alcohol, food additives, colourings and preservatives a well as foods treated with pesticides.

 

Hydrate | Make sure to drink plenty of filtered water each day.  Feeling a little clogged – trying drinking 3 glasses of water before breakfast to really get things flushed out quickly.

 

Movement | Exercise speeds up bowel action and encourages healthy elimination, so get moving!

 

 

4 foods that can further help support our colon

 

 

Dark, Leafy Greens | These fibrous plants sweep and clean our gut and are full of minerals and antioxidants that can help our body protect itself from toxins.   Remember to always add some healthy fat (butter, olive oil or avocado) to support proper absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

 

Chia Seeds | These seeds are little tiny gut cleaners, which when soaked in water for a few minutes, plump up and turn into a jello-like substance, helping to flush out the stomach.  Wonderful for those prone to constipation.

 

Psyllium Husk | Another wonderful seed for cleansing the gut, and because it’s so powerful, start with a low dose and see how your body reacts.   Remember to drink plenty of water when using psyllium husk to help support the cleansing process.

 

Fresh Herbs | There are lots of great 'everyday' herbs you can add to your meals that help support the cleansing of the gut, including:

Fennel seeds - aids in elimination of mucus build up and relieves gas.

Peppermint - soothing for any digestive upset and helps alleviate bloating.

Oregano - both anti-viral and anti-fungal.

 

My favourite “Colon Loving” recipe