When it comes to how our bodies utilise the food we eat, the colon is crucial. How food moves through the body is seen here.

• Food is first chewed into tiny pieces in the mouth by the teeth. After being swallowed, food passes via the oesophagus and links to the stomach.
• Food is further processed into liquid in the stomach before moving on to the small intestine (intestine).
• The pancreas, liver, and gallbladder work with the small colon to continue breaking down food. All the essential vitamins and nutrients in meals are absorbed here.
• The remainder, which is primarily liquid, is next emptied into the colon. The colon is where the water is absorbed. The residual substance is broken down by bacteria in the colon. The colon then passes the waste into the rectum.
• The rectum functions as a sort of container for this waste. Stool, or bodily waste, is expelled from the body through the anus by muscles in the rectum.

Although eating well is beneficial to your general health, a healthy colon depends on a low-calorie, high-fiber diet that primarily consists of fruits and vegetables. Good colon health also depends on exercise and healthy behaviours like limiting alcohol use and quitting smoking. Bloating, gas, discomfort, constipation, and diarrhoea are all signs that your colon isn't functioning properly. Discuss colorectal cancer with your healthcare practitioner. When found early, colorectal cancer is treatable, treatable, and frequently cured. Inquire with your doctor about the type of screening test you need to get and when.