Do you get gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea? Have you ever been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, colitis, celiac, Crohn’s, or colon cancer? If so, it is a serious sign you have a weak digestive system. There are many reasons why you can develop these conditions that often cause extreme discomfort. We will discuss the steps you can take to repair a damaged bowel and keep your colon healthy if you want to prevent diseases of your bowel.

Here are the things you need to do if you want a stronger and healthier bowel:

• Eat LESS Sugar.  Added sugar in the form of sugary drinks, candy, baked goods, etc. will inflame your bowels. Most diseases of the bowels and the rest of the body are the result of inflammation fueled by too much sugar.
• Eat LESS Grains, especially Gluten Grains.  Many grains, especially wheat, are sprayed with glyphosate herbicides (Roundup). This chemical remains in the plants and has been found to cause chronic diseases because it severely damages your gut flora, the “good” bacteria that inhabits your digestive tract. Gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye, creates gaps in the intestinal wall which allows food particles to leak into the blood stream. The immune system mounts a serious attack on these particles, creating widespread systemic inflammation. This mechanism in associated with many diseases, including thyroid conditions and autoimmune diseases. If you suffer from an autoimmune disease, avoiding gluten is paramount!
• Eat LESS Factory-Farmed Meat and Processed Meat. Most meat in the grocery store comes from grain-fed animals. This makes the meat “inflamed,” and so are your bowels and the rest of your body when you eat it. Eating grain-fed meat and processed meat is associated with colon cancer. Grass-fed or pasture-raised meat is preferred because the animals are eating grass, which is less inflammatory compared to grains.
• Avoid GMOs.  GMOs have been linked to gastrointestinal dysfunction and the glyphosates (Roundup) they spray on them has been linked with celiac disease and other gut dysfunction.
• Avoid Food Additives. There are numerous chemicals food manufacturers put in processed food to preserve them. Many of these are associated with causing cancer. A list of common food additives can be found here and here.
• Eat MORE Fruits and Vegetables. These contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to keep your digestive system healthy and fight cancer. They also contain fiber to keep your digestive contents moving and keep you “regular.”
• Take Probiotics and Eat Fermented Foods. Probiotics are supplements that contain “good” bacteria. They are also in fermented foods, such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, pickled vegetables, and others. It is very important to take a probiotic supplement or eat fermented foods ON A DAILY BASIS to keep your bowels healthy.

How Probiotics Keep Your Bowels Healthy

• Drink MORE Water. Not drinking enough water along with not eating enough fiber will make you constipated.
• Increase Your Vitamin D. Vitamin D protects against colorectal cancer by killing cancer cells! Have your blood vitamin D levels checked by your physician to see if you are low.

Find Out What Vitamin D Levels Should Be, What Type To Take and Dosage Recommendations

• Increase Your Magnesium. Magnesium is a natural laxative and it also helps protect against the top diseases that kill, including colorectal cancer. There are only a few really good food sources of magnesium and situations when you require more magnesium that you should know about.
• Increase Your Omega-3s. Eating fish and taking fish oil supplements will help reduce intestinal inflammation and the diseases that result from an inflamed bowel.
• Get Your Adjustments. The nerves from your mid and lower back give strength and energy to your digestive system. Misalignments of your posture and spine in these areas can affect these nerves, weakening your bowels, and making you more susceptible to bowel conditions.

You are only as healthy as your bowels. If you follow these dietary strategies you will be on your way to having a stronger bowel and a healthier body!