Colon Health 101: What You Need to Know to Stay Healthy

How the Colon Works

After your stomach and small intestine break food down and absorb its nutrients, the leftovers are sent to the colon, which is part of the large intestine. The colon helps with bowel movements, turning food waste into feces. It's made of five parts that wrap around the small intestine in your abdomen.

As the colon turns food waste into feces, it transfers the mass down to the rectum. The rectum then pushes the excrement to the anus, which then exits the body. 

When your colon is healthy, this process occurs naturally and shouldn't cause any abdominal discomfort.

Diet and Lifestyle Habits That Support a Healthy Colon

The colon is part of the digestive system, so focusing on what you eat is key.

• High-fiber, healthy fat diets. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with fiber, a nutrient that supports digestion. Think raspberries, pears, apples, green peas, broccoli, and brussels sprouts. As for fats, look for foods rich in healthy fats, such as salmon, avocados, and nuts. Unhealthy fats found in sugary and processed foods will not benefit your colon. 
• Limit alcohol. Drinking alcohol is fine, so long as you don't overdo it. At most, women should have one drink per day, and men two. 

While a big focus of colon health is monitoring your diet, there are other lifestyle choices you can make for colon cancer prevention. 

• Exercise. Working out prevents all kinds of cancer, including colon cancer. Going for a run, lifting weights, swimming, and biking are all great opportunities for cancer prevention. Working out also helps with weight control - being overweight is another contributor to colon cancer.
• Keep up with colonoscopy screening recommendations. It's recommended that you start getting screened for colon cancer regularly beginning at age 45. A colonoscopy is the best way to check for and diagnose cancer or precancerous growths in your colon. Talk with your provider about the best colonoscopy schedule for you based on your family history, current health, and other factors.