DO NOT CLICK ON THIS POST, if uneasy about to eat or are uneasy about questions about diarrhea and the colons workings!

[Beaky364]

Okay so if you've clicked you're either intrigued or curious so here goes....
Earlier on i had an "episode" due to maybe something dodgy i ate or drank yesterday and i wondered can diarrhea actually be good for you seeing everything is expelled by force similar to the bad stuff within our veins etc.. being cleared out by good exercise?
Was everything expelled as you hear stories that the colon seems to harbour plenty of half digested foodstuffs especially meat apparently which is hard to digest?
This brings me to the last past of my question, is the colon smooth or rigid as the idea that it harbours undigested foodstuffs leads me to question the way the bowel works, can anyone shed some light on this subject?

[sara3]

I clicked because the full title doesn't show on the Latest Posts.

[boxtops]

It's good for you in that it clears out whatever is bad, but it's really bad for you in that it clears out all the "good" bacteria too, and can leave you severely dehydrated. If food moves through too fast, your body doesn't pick up the nourishment it needs, so it does you no good at all.

The colon is massive, and it's in segments - you can read all about it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_(anatomy)

[Beaky364]

Sara3, lolwut?

[daisya]

I can only guess that occasional clearouts like that won't do any harm but long term it causes dehydration. Someone with more knowledge than I would help more but I think the colon has ridges...google it and no doubt there will be diagrams et al.

[boxtops]

^ forgot to say - the colon is only the last section of your digestive tract - a lot of the work goes on in your intestines, not the colon.

[daisya]

No one had posted when I was writing mine...sorry as I've more or less said similar to boxtops lol.

[Maydup]

After your "episode" it would be good to eat some crisps and drink some flat lemonade. These replace the salts and sugars you will have lost. Yoghurt is also good to replace the good bacteria lost.

And no, the colon is not smooth. Its lumpy and bumpy but soft. It harbours foodstuffs in its pouches which is why you need good fibre in your diet and not too much meat.

Hope you're feeling better today - drink plenty of fluids.

[Sqad]

Diarrhoea......induced or pathological can never be GOOD for you.

By the time that food has reached the colon it is almost completely digested and all the colon does is to extract fluid and leave a well formed and partially most bolus.

The lining of the colon is smooth to the touch, but does have ridges to increase the surface area for fluid absorption.

[netibiza]

Crikey sqad, "well formed and partially moist" mine are like bricks most of the time. I can go 2 weeks without anything, now that can't be good for anyone surely.

[netibiza]

^^ sorry if that is a bit too blunt for some.

[Sqad]

netty..LOL....you need to drink more water and eat more fruit.

[Beaky364]

Wow some great info here so thanks all.
Netibiza i sometimes go without 2-4 days without any movements and i feel uncomfortable, bloated, energyless and unhappy so 2 weeks would be hell!
I'd go to the gp if i were you and as sqad says have more water fruit and veg as well.
Is it possible for you to post up your usual daily or weekly diet so we can see what the problem may be?
A friend has recommended psyllium husk as a great movement maker though i haven't tried it but the reviews on google look promising.

[AlBags]

I'm eating an Alpro Soya chocolate dessert while reading this : )

[DTCwordfan]

Now if you want something gross /uneasy, watch this....

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=303_1224901262