Your colon is an integral part of your body, and plays an important role in the daily functionality of your organs. Everyone has one, but most people don’t think about how to keep it in top shape. You may consider ways to strengthen your heart health or improve your oral health, but do you ever practice ways to make your digestive tract run smoother? Continue reading to learn more about how to improve your colon health before it’s too late:

Eat A Colon-Healthy Diet

Your colon, also known as the large intestine, absorbs water from digested food. Then, muscular contractions of the colon move the waste left over from this process to eventually be released from the body through a bowel movement. Your colon is a superstar that breaks down every single thing you consume. If you don’t choose food wisely, your colon will pay the price. Consuming red meat, processed meals, and fried foods can wreak havoc in your colon. Even some fruits and vegetables with skins or seeds are hard on your digestive system, especially if you eat them too frequently or in large servings.

A colon-healthy diet consists of plant-based foods loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that supply your body with essential fiber to get things moving smoothly through your gastrointestinal tract.

According to the American Cancer Society, the risk of colon cancer increases by 15% to 20% if you consume 100 grams of red meat (the equivalent of a small hamburger), or 50 grams (the equivalent of one hot dog) of processed meats, like sausage, bacon, or hot dogs, per day. Also, it’s best to limit your sugar intake and up your fiber intake. Focus on incorporating a variety of whole grains, colorful fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and beans into your diet.

Consume Probiotics

Most people don’t realize that our digestive system has a microbiome of its own, where good and bad bacteria flourish. It’s critical that the good bacteria outnumber the bad bacteria, otherwise your gut flora can lead to some serious damage such as inflammation, malabsorption, and weight loss. An imbalanced gut impairs your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar and store fat. Without good flora, your entire colon can be overrun by bad bacteria, which results in gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and severe illness.

The best way to guarantee that your body is replenishing itself with good bacteria is to consume probiotics. Probiotics are live yeast and bacteria that fight off bad bacteria, and can be found in certain foods or supplements. They feed the friendly bacteria in the digestive system, so you can rest assured that your gut flora is positively impacted with each consumption. Natural probiotics include manuka honey, cultured yogurt, sauerkraut, miso, pickles, and kombucha. If you’re looking for a trusted probiotic supplement, try CYRx MD Nutrition’s Probiotic 30 Billion Supplement.

Consider A Cleanse

If you want to remove toxins from your colon and intestinal tract to improve your digestive health, you can turn to a cleanse to get the job done. Over at CYRx MD Nutrition, we offer a 15-Day Cleanse that is formulated with Senna, Cascara Sagrada Bark, Psyllium Husk, and Flaxseed. These compounds are designed to act as a natural laxative to treat constipation. Cascara Sagrada stimulates the bowels to contract, thus improving colon regularity. Psyllium is a fiber supplement that relieves constipation and may help treat elevated cholesterol and blood sugar. It also leads to a feeling of fullness, decreasing hunger between meals. And, flaxseed has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes due to the Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and lignans found in flaxseed.

You can dramatically improve your health and wellness with these 3 tips to strengthen your colon. Check out our other nutrition products to enhance your overall well-being now!