The holidays are quickly approaching us and before you know it there will be turkeys roasting, carolers caroling, eggnog drinking, and a whole lot of tantalizing food that is sure to have you packing on pounds as fast as you can say Happy Holidays! But you know what else the holidays can bring? A poor functioning colon.

While feasting on delicious food and adding on extra pounds that you can lose doesn’t seem like too big of a deal; a bad colon is. Did you know that a poor diet is one of the contributing factors to colon cancer? A poor functioning colon can lead to the following:

• Difficulty losing weight
• Constipation
• Inflammation
• Skin problems
• Lowered immunity
• Poor sleeping habits
• Digestive diseases
• Chronic Illnesses

Holiday or no holiday, there are alternative ways for you to nourish your body with healing foods and maintain a healthy colon. If you want to enjoy the holidays without upsetting your colon, here are 5 tips on how you can do exactly that.

Maintain a healthy weight – What does your colon have to do with your weight? Everything! Did you know that morbidly obese people are more susceptible to colon diseases? Of course, the best way you can maintain a healthy weight is by dieting and exercising regularly. However, when it comes to your diet, you want to make sure you are avoiding sugary, fatty, and processed foods. These foods are the main culprit that can lead to obesity, diabetes, and a plethora of chronic illnesses that can be difficult to deal with.

Little your middle – There are mainly two types of fat; subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat. Subcutaneous fat is the fat you can see and touch that is on your thighs, stomach and body. Visceral fat is the fat that you can’t see, is deeply rooted in your tummy area, and wraps itself around some of your major around your liver, heart and other major organs. If you have too much visceral fat it causes inflammation, which can lead to a combination of diseases that can be detrimental to your health. The most common conditions caused by visceral fat include, but are not limited to:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Insulin resistance
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Stroke
• And a myriad of other chronic illnesses

In fact a study reported in Cancer Prevention Research revealed that abdominal fat is linked to colon cancer. It also noted that individuals with too much belly fat will be more susceptible to premature death. This is why it is extremely important to reduce the amount of belly fat.

Work it out – you hear it all the time; go to the gym, work out, lose weight. But why is it important to move your body? What does regular movement and physical activity have to do with colon health? Well for starters, exercise will boost your mood, keep you fit, and help you breath better. But, did you know there are also specific exercises that you can do to protect your colon? There are certain pelvic and kegel exercises that you can do that will improve the health and function of your colon. These type of exercises strengthen the colon wall, reduce constipation, improve bowel movement, and help the colon perform at its ultimate best.

Avoid harmful substances – It’s no secret that smoking can cause cancer and alcohol can damage your liver. Not to mention, alcohol can also cloud your judgment. Smoking and alcohol consumption are both linked to colon cancer. While more research needs to be done, these harmful substances can also fill your body with harmful toxins. When you have too many toxins in your body, it can wreak havoc on your health, causing your body to go out of whack and create irregular functioning organs and certain types of illnesses. Some of these issues include:

• Fatigue
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Poor circulation
• Higher risk of colon cancer and other types of cancers
• Liver problems
• Inflammation
• Parasites and bacteria
• Low energy
• And much more!

This is why it is crucial to avoid alcohol and smoking at all costs. If you must have alcohol, try to limit it to drinking only on special occasions or drink red wine, which is good for your heart.

Eat a healthy diet – With so many diets and contradicting information around what to eat, it can be difficult knowing who to trust. There are so many experts that tout a healthy diet. But, what exactly is a healthy diet? Is it gluten-free, no carbs, and paleo? The truth is, you have to do what works for you, but most healthy diets consists of organic fruits, organic vegetables, fiber, organic meats, and fresh fish. I think it’s also safe to say that avoiding starchy foods, pastas, potatoes, and processed foods (especially during the holidays) will keep you slim, and your colon healthy.   To have a stronger impact, make sure you incorporate cruciferous fresh green vegetables at every meal!

Follow these tips year round to have a healthier colon!

During the holiday season, it can be difficult to make healthier food choices. However, if you think about all the excess work you are preventing your colon from doing, your body will thank you. The key is to follow these tips not only for the holidays, but all year round. Take the simple steps you need to today to change your lifestyle and eating habits. By following these five tips, you will have a slimmer, healthier you, and a well-functioning colon!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/12/abdominal-fat-colon-cancer-belly-visceral_n_2807896.html