Colon

FACTS: The final stages of digestion occur in the large intestine. The colon is the main section, looping up, across and down like a horseshoe. Other intestinal sections are the cecum, appendix and rectum. The colon absorbs water for reuse by the body and ferments fiber with the help of trillions of friendly microbes, your microbiome. These bacteria are an integral part of your digestive system, even acting as the gatekeepers of your metabolism.

E. coli, acidophilus and bifido are among the normal flora living in our guts to help digest and move food through the colon. Not all gut microbes are beneficial, however. Some are opportunistic, invading the colon or blood and causing diseases when defenses are down and conditions are right. That is why the human immune system is constantly producing antibodies to regulate the bacteria in our bodies. It is a constant microbial and cellular battle between light and dark to bring balance to your body.

Another incredible feature of your colon is its connection to your mental and emotional well-being. Do you think with your gut? Perhaps you do more than you realize. Your gut is lined with a complex system of nerves comprising the enteric nervous system. Nerves in the gut react to the situation and influence your mood by sending out serotonin and other chemical messages to your body. In a way, your gut is acting like a second brain!