Irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation affect millions of people each year. Excessive gas, bloating, cramps, constipation and bowel pain, this is what many people wake up to every day. If you are one of the millions of people who experience the painful symptoms due to digestive problems then you understand just how debilitating this condition can be.

Chronic constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome often start with an overworked colon. So, what is the actual function of the colon and how come so many folks are working theirs to death?

Learning the map of your body.

As a health care practitioner, I like to take the time to explain what is happening when people come to see me gripping their belly saying: my stomach hurts. There are a lot of misconceptions out there as to where different parts of our body actually are -the stomach being one of them. The stomach is actually just beneath the ribcage on the left hand side, beneath the heart. So when people grab their belly and they say that the stomach is hurting, they are actually in the wrong place. Most likely it is their colon that is giving them fits, not the stomach.

Most people seem to experience a lot of digestive discomfort in the colon whether it is part of the small intestine or the large intestine. Actually, the large intestine is the last 5-6 feet of your intestinal system - before you excrete waist matter in the form of feces. The entire intestinal system contains nearly 20 -25 feet of this miraculous organ, designed to eliminate waste and toxins from our system.

What does the colon do that is so different?

The colon does several different things. First of all, it tends to absorb water, minerals, vitamins and it dries out the liquid food, or chyme as it is often called, so that any waste material can then be excreted through the anus. Even though the colon removes water, it is extremely important to drink plenty of water all day long, because this entire process (and every other process in your body) requires water to make it work effectively.

It is largely responsible for bundling up all the waste materials, from the food we eat, and escorting it neatly out of our bodies. The muscles around the colon contract and literally work the excrement through the process.

Restore digestive balance and live pain free.

Detoxifying your colon can restore balance to your entire digestive system. How? By cleaning out the undigested and caked on waste material that has accumulated inside. This waste is robbing you of the valuable nutrients your body needs. It is stealing your energy and making you look old. As you age your body has more time to accumulate toxins and trash. Unless you eat a perfect diet of fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains your system is gathering gunk. The effects are gradual and you might not even notice it until you start to hurt.

All natural ingredients work to cleanse your body. The best colon cleanses use natural ingredients that gently stimulate your body to release toxins and break down the sludge. These ingredients are natural fibers like psyllium, flaxseed and food grade bentonite clay.

A good colon detoxification starts with plenty of fresh filtered water and a healthy diet. Next, try using a colon cleanse product that doesn't include stimulants. Use it once a day for a week and then once a month. Be sure to drink many, many glasses of fresh filtered water - I cannot stress this enough. Many of my clients have returned to tell me they no longer suffer from the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or chronic constipation.

Freedom to enjoy your meals without pain is a beautiful thing!