The Connection Between Fiber And Colon Disease

Fiber & Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is not only a bothersome disease, but one of the most common reasons for visiting a doctor. It is manifested through constipation or diarrhea or both alternatively. There is also bloating, gas, abdominal pain and spasm. Irritable Bowel Syndrome normally gets triggered by anxiety, improper dietary habits and as an after-effect of some medications. If left unattended, Irritable Bowel Syndrome may lead to more serious bowel and colon disorders including diverticulosis of the sigmoid colon. Diets rich in fiber helps in bulky stool, which is soft. Thus the transit time of the stool to pass through the colon is normalized and colon health restored. It minimizes the frequency of colon therapy also.

Fiber & Colon Polyps/Colon Cancer

Colon polyps which may or may not lead to colon cancer, is a frequent ailment that plagues the Western world. This is mainly due to poor diet habits, which consists of extremely inadequate fiber content. When several carcinogenic materials remain in the colon for too long, colon polyps are formed. These benign, mushroom-shaped growths, if not detected and treated early develops into malignant colon cancers. While hereditary and past history of colon cancer is an important precursor to the disease, diet is also considered important in its growth and development. A bulk forming agent, like dietary fiber is needed to dilute and soften these carcinogenic waste materials accumulated in the colon and push them out of the system in the form of soft stool. The less you expose your colon to these harmful toxic wastes, the more chances of living with a healthy colon.

Fiber & Diverticulosis

The sigmoid colon continues to contract vigorously to maintain a high pressure zone. This action of the sigmoid colon facilitates movement of stool into the rectum. And since the sigmoid is a high pressure part of the colon, it is here that most diverticuli are born. During irregular bowel movement, there may be prolonged, contraction of the colon, usually in the left lower side of the abdomen. This results in diverticulosis, showing up as large ballooning pockets. These pockets sometimes become infected (diverticulitis) or get perforated. This causes pockets of infection or inflammation on the lining the intestine. A high-fiber increases the bulk of the stool and thereby diminish the pressure within the colon. Thus the formation of pockets is reduced or stopped.