Does your colon need a therapist?

Chances are, you haven’t thought about your colon lately – it tends to bring up the rear when it comes to beauty issues. But a new breed of therapist is recommending we pay better attention. Focusing purely on our internal health through treatments such as acupuncture, massage and the much-debated colonic, colon therapists claim a little intestine TLC can be life changing. Wellness guru Hannah Bronfman credits Tracy Piper, a New York internal health specialist and founder of The Piper Center, with restoring her digestive system and easing her ‘leaky gut syndrome’ (a porous digestive lining that causes the stomach to be more sensitive to bacteria in food, resulting in bloating, fatigue and pain) by re-educating her about food groups and refining her diet.

Why is the colon so important? Also known as the large intestine, it is the final stop in food’s journey through the digestive system, absorbing fluid from indigestible food and producing the solid waste we get rid of. “The colon is essentially a waste-storage organ that lets you control when the waste is released,” explains Piper.

While it’s perhaps not the sexiest of subjects, experts say we shouldn’t underestimate how essential our colon is to our overall health. “I often refer to the colon as ‘the second brain’, as we hold more nerve endings and more neurons in the colon than we do the entire central nervous system, which comprises the brain and spinal cord,” says Piper. And it does much more than just act as your body’s garbage chute: “It’s also important for fluid, electrolyte [salt] and fatty-acid absorption, and holds large numbers of good bacteria or flora, which help to balance out the intestine environment,” she adds.

For now, most of us only take notice of our colon when things start going awry. “We need to take a more functional approach to our colons,” urges Piper. “When we buy a car, we change the oil every 3,000 miles or the engine will suffer. But when our body gives us warning lights – fatigue, headaches, swollen ankles, skin rashes and problems with vision – we ignore them and work our ‘machine’ daily for 50, 60, 70 years, never taking the time to service it. Every car model and every person’s body is different and while some run forever without a problem, others require a monthly appointment to fix one thing or another.”

1. Chew your food slowly. We swallow our food practically whole, which causes bloating and gas and creates the perfect environment for bad bacteria.

2. Keep meals as simple as possible, such as carbs or proteins with vegetables. High-sugar fruits should be eaten before a meal – if eaten afterwards, they will ferment the digested food and cause indigestion.

3. Don’t eat and drink at the same time – this doesn’t allow food to be properly digested. Drink 20 minutes before a meal and one hour after.

4. Take daily probiotics or increase your intake of organic live yogurt.

5. Take minerals as well as vitamins, particularly magnesium (studies show a link between taking them every day and lowering the chance of colon cancer). Start with 100mg a day.

6. Increase your fiber intake, both in soluble and insoluble form – you need around 35 grams a day. Add grounded seeds to smoothies, salads and juices to give more bulk: it acts like a broom to your colon, sweeping away bad bacteria.

7. But be wary of eating too many unrefined whole grains, nuts and beans, as overconsumption can aggravate inflammation.

8. Try abdominal massage by applying a light pressure slowly over your abdomen for 10 minutes a day in a clockwise direction. It increases blood flow in the stomach, oxygen to the organs and relaxes muscle tension.