Facts about Your Body’s Colon

The colon is a hollow tube, approximately 5 feet long and with a diameter of 2-3 inches. The four parts that make up the human colon are the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon and the sigmoid colon. The function of the colon is to transport waste materials from the small intestine to the rectum and to also help the body absorb certain nutrients it needs from food. When the colon isn’t functioning optimally, this may leave you feeling tired, lacking energy and bloated, so a diet that is geared toward colon health needs to be high in fiber to help the colon clean itself better. When the colon is working well, you will have less stomach problems such as diarrhea and constipation and feel healthier overall.