Prevent Colon Cancer and Promote Gastrointestinal Health

Hemorrhoids have been discussed throughout history. The first known description of hemorrhoids is actually in the Old Testament, where they were described as an affliction upon the Egyptians. Yet what are these things? How could something so small cause so much pain and suffering throughout society?  read more »

Fiber can be defined as coarse, indigestible plant matter, consisting primarily of polysaccharides such as cellulose. Fruits high in fiber content are: artichokes, apples, pears, berries, dates, and figs. Vegetables that are highest per serving are: beans, broccoli, chick peas, lentils, pumpkin, and squash. Note that lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers are not in the highest per serving category. While the typical garden salad contains some quantity of fiber, a diet with two salads a day is not enough for your daily needs. Fiber is not exclusively found in fruit and vegetables. It also is present in cereals, whole wheat bread, barley, and sunflower seeds to name a few other sources.  read more »

The large intestine or colon is about 4-5 feet long and consists of the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and the sigmoid colon. The main function of the colon appears to be extraction of water and salts from chyme (digested food). The colon from cecum to the mid-transverse colon is also known as the right colon. The remainder is known as the left colon.  read more »

The importance of regular bowel function to overall health has been greatly overestimated throughout history. Starting with the Egyptians and Greeks early physicians promoted the idea that putrefaction or stagnation of the bowels was associated with disease and named this process “autointoxication”. During the early 19th century, studies supported the idea that ptomaine poisoning, the degradation of proteins in the colon by anaerobic bacteria, generated toxic amines, which led to autointoxication. Among the leading proponents of autointoxication was Metchnikoff, a Jewish zoologist, who hypothesized that intestinal toxins can accumulate and led to systemic diseases. Because of his work as well as others, the early treatment of disease thought to be caused by autointoxication centered on altering intestinal flora to prevent the breakdown of proteins. This theory gained momentum and in the early 20th century some surgeons even advocated colectomy to cure intestinal autointoxication. By the 1920s, this medical doctrine fell into disrepute as scientific advances failed to give support to this theory. Recently many warnings have been made about “bowel irregularity” and its role in autointoxication.  read more »