The Role of the Immune System in Colon Cleansing

Your body has its own natural defense mechanisms against invading bacteria, viruses, and other aggressions. While you may be familiar with some aspects of your body's disease-fighting capabilities, you may be surprised to find out that about 70% of the body's immune system is located in the digestive tract, where specialized cells play a vital role as a first line of defense against invading bacteria.  Keeping the colon clean and free of putrefied waste can ward off illness, yielding in a more productive and happy lifestyle.

Intestinal toxins can interfere with digestive enzymes and nutrient absorption. They can also significantly affect your immune system. The linings of your intestines produce large amounts of important secretions and rich flora that support your health and prevent disease.  When the flora is scarce or is unable to do its job due to an invasion of toxins, it usually results in immediate illness.  These illnesses range from constipation and diarrhea all the way to cancer.  If you only do one thing for your own health, it should be taking special care of your digestive tract and maintaining proper digestion health. 

Simply put, it is your own responsibility to take care of your own health, which includes keeping your immune system ‘up-to-date’ by keeping it healthy.  Since 70% of your immune system is in the digestive tract, it is important to keep it clean, healthy and free of waste build-up.  An easy and well-known way to keep your digestive organs healthy is by eating well and making sure to get a lot of fruits and vegetables.  The fiber and nutrients in fruits and vegetables help give the colon the ability to push the waste out quickly and effectively. 

It is also very important to exercise regularly and keep the digestive tract muscles tight.  The intestines push the fecal matter out of the body by an action known as peristalsis.  It is very important to keep the peristaltic muscles tight and in good working order by doing physical activity.  Aerobics, yoga and martial arts are especially good activities for the digestive tract because the bending and stretching has the ability to strengthen the digestive muscles.  Even simple stretching every day can improve the function of the digestive system (especially stretches and activities where the knees are pulled into the chest or the stomach is on the thighs).  Another important fact about exercise:  Harvard Alumni found that those who burned only 500 calories or less per week in exercise had 35 percent more cancer deaths than those expending greater than 2,000 calories per week. 

Still don’t think the immune system is important? Let’s let the doctors convince you:

Greg B. Wilson, Ph.D. and James B. Daily, Jr., Ph.D. - "Our health is directly influenced by our immune system.  The onset of almost all infectious and degenerative disease is preceded or accompanied by inadequate immune response.  With intensifying concerns about the perils of vaccinations and antibiotic resistant organisms, a new weapon against disease is sorely needed.”
William J. Hennen, PhD. - “It is increasingly clear that as the world becomes a smaller place with viruses and other pathogens traveling with great ease, we face now a unique challenge. Simply put, we are now, and will be, more exposed to challenges to our health. However, nature has already provided the immune system as the defense to the microbes in our environment. To the degree we are able to educate the immune system to recognize the invader, will determine our ability to cope with the challenges. I urge all people to pay attention to those things that affect your immune system.”