Foods and supplements that are good for your colon

If a person wants to have a healthy digestive tract, dietary fibers are important to be taken everyday. These can be found in fruits and vegetables that are indigestible.

Eating foods that are rich in fiber will ease bowel movement. According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), a minimum of 20-35 gram of fibers are needed to maintain a healthy digestive system. Unfortunately, an average American only takes about 12-18 grams of fibers every day.

Dietary fibers are needed for a healthy gastrointestinal. These can also reduce the risk of colon cancer, hypertension, and coronary diseases. If a person extremely lacks fibers on his or her diet, constipation, vomiting, bad breath, flatulence or gas, headaches, fatigue, infections, allergy symptoms, and abdominal pain may occur.

There are many sources of fibers. Vegetables that are high in these are broccoli and carrots. Fruits are also a good source of these; particularly prune juice, berries, and plums. Legumes like peas, soybeans, and other beans are good source of fibers. Whole grain foods, oats, root crops, nuts, and beans also have a high fiber-content.

If a person wants to improve his/her bowel movement, a lot of soluble fiber supplements are available in the market. Soluble fibers are known to alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel disorder, such as diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.

There is a lot of misconception about fiber. It does not bind to minerals and vitamins, therefore the absorption of these are not restricted. Many dietary fibers exhibit some levels of prebiotic effect. Prebiotics are food ingredients that stimulate the growth and activity of good bacteria in the colon, creating a healthy environment in the intestinal microflora, and thus improving overall health.

Prebiotics may also give relief from some inflammatory bowel disorder. Natural food supplements that have psyllium (a plant species) are also effective as these are rich in fibers. Pysllium also has many health benefits; it can lower levels of cholesterol, reduce the risk of colon cancer, and alleviate the symptoms of bowel disorder. This ingredient is also use as a laxative.

Vegetable gums, which are fiber supplements, are relatively new to the market. These are often sold in powder form which can be dissolved easily in water, and may even be mixed in foods as these have no taste. These are effective to ease defecation and will improve bowel movement.