At first when I saw this phrase used in advertising and some other informational material about colon health, I thought it was all just a marketing tactic meant to scare people into doing something about their colon health, and prompting them to buy all types of crazy systems like colon cleansing systems, irrigation systems, fasting products and more.

But, is there really something to this statement? Is colon health really that dire of an issue that this phrase is justified in it's somewhat macabre spin on the subject?Well, colon health actually is very important, and there are many physical conditions that can be spawned from poor colon health, including deadly conditions such as colon cancer and other digestive and "waste removal system" cancers and disorders.

A big part of the problem with the surge of poor colon health and related digestive disorders here in the US is a general deterioration of food quality and diet regimen. Much of our food today is processed, and is far from it's natural form, which is the most easily digested and utilized by the body.

What you get when you eat a lot of processed foods, including meats, cheeses, breads, pastas, chips and other processed food is a lot of residual "junk" that basically clogs up the whole system, making it sluggish, and not as efficient.

Let's take a look at some of the colon related disorders that we commonly hear about now that are most likely related to the diet of today's world :

1.) IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome

2.) Crohn's Disease

3.) Colon polyps (these can indicate precancerous tendencies)

4.) Colon cancer

All of these disorders that are related to colon health have a profound impact on our overall health, energy, quality of life, and ability to control our weight and maintain a slim physique. Not only that, maintaining colon health means "comfort".

Why do I say that? Well, we all know that being constipated or having diarrhea, both opposite ends of the spectrum, are both extremely uncomfortable conditions, and often an embarrassing nuisance.

Having a healthy, functional, and efficient colon means many things in terms of health and happiness. It means that you can efficiently digest and eliminate your food.

No buddha bellies, and no bloating and painful gas, in other words. It also means that your colon is much less likely to be in a constant state of irritation, which leads to colon polyps and ultimately can lead to colon cancer.

Getting plenty of fiber in your diet is essential to maintaining optimal colon health, as well as restricting the amount of processed food in your diet, which tends to only leave toxins and traces of undigested particles in the digestive tract.

I'd say a good colon cleansing system is in order for most people who do not stick to a high fiber, low fat, and processed food-restricted diet, to ensure that these traces of residual buildup are eliminated on a regular basis.

Many people, including myself, report fantastic results if they use these natural colon cleansing systems correctly, but they should never be used as a substitute for prudence in your diet regimen. The more natural your food, and the more "green", the better.

Remember, in some ways the phrase "Death begins in the colon" is true, but you have the power to make this phrase inconsequential to your own life.