By eating a varied diet, you can protect your large intestine from common diseases

The colon or large intestine is a hollow tube at the end of the digestive tract that stores faeces they are evacuated. However, it can be affected by several problems.

To keep it healthy, we need to look after the essential microorganisms that live in the colon and avoid constipation, which overloads the intestine with waste and can lead to lesions, effectively eliminating toxins that build up in the digestive tract.

How to look after your large intestine

• Always have breakfast: it’s the most important meal of the day. It helps to mobilise the intestine and encourages bacterial flora. Eating fruit and drinking fluids helps to prevent constipation and activates the metabolism.
• Go to the lavatory at the same time every day: you can re-educate your intestine so that it behaves regularly and improves intestinal transit.
• Tax natural probiotics: yoghurt cares for and encourages the intestinal flora, essential for absorbing nutrients and protecting the mucous membrane and the walls of the colon.
• Drink water: drinking water hydrates the intestine, improves intestinal movement, flushes away toxins and improves the digestion. Remember to drink at least eight glasses of water every day.

What should I eat to keep my colon healthy?

1. Fruit and vegetables: these are excellent for your intestine because they contain plenty of water, fibre, minerals and vitamins. Add broccoli to your diet, which contains sulforaphane and isothiocyanates, which can slow down the proliferation of cells from a lesion in the colon wall; as well as tomatoes, pumpkins and carrots, which contain vitamin A that repairs the tissues and stimulates the immune system.
2. Mushrooms: these contain a lot of water as well as potassium, which prevents fluid retention. They are antioxidant and stimulate the immune system.
3. Wholegrain cereals: they contain fibre and complex carbohydrates that ease digestion and intestinal transit.
4. Seaweed: this absorbs toxins and forms a gel that lubricates the faeces and protects the mucous membrane from irritation. There are several kinds: kombu, spirulina, agar-agar, among others.
5. Olive oil: is rich in omega 3 and 6, as are dried fruits, avocado and oily fish, which protect the colon and reduce inflammation.
6. Green tea: reduces intestinal inflammation (as do turmeric and ginger) and contains coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, E and D3.

Avoid very oil and spicy foods, alcoholic drinks and stimulants and fizzy drinks. Cook using clean methods such as steaming and boiling, grilling and baking, and avoid eating fried and battered foods. Foods that contain sugar, desserts and pastries are not recommended.

This post is also available in: Spanish