What is the role of our large intestine? How is our large intestine affected by Crohns and Colitis?
What is the role of our large intestine?
Despite the name our large intestine (aka colon) is actually shorter in length than our small intestine at around 1.5 meters long but the time it takes for the food to move through is slower – 10-59 hours.
Our large intestine has three main roles:
Absorbing water and electrolytes.
Producing and absorbing some vitamins
Forming our poo, moving it through and out of our body.
Our small intestine does a great job of processing our food so by the time what is leftover of our food reaches our colon most of the nutrients and up to 90% of the water has been absorbed. The colon continues the process and reabsorbs more of the water, sodium, potassium, vitamin K, and small amounts of calcium and magnesium.
Our colon is also home to trillions of microbes – bacteria, fungi, yeasts – that are collectively known as our microbiota and they help to keep us healthy as well as producing some vitamins by fermenting fibre. The more we learn about them the more we realise they are fundamental to our existence including regulating our digestive health, mood, weight, hormones and much more, but this is a big topic so I am going to cover this in more depth next week.
How does Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s affect the large intestine?
Crohn’s can affect the large intestine and if it only affects the large intestine it is called Crohn’s Colitis. Ulcerative Colitis only affects the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the large intestine and this can cause pain and bleeding. As a result, iron deficiency is common in active disease in UC.
I have written a free e-book to help you find a way forward for your everyday life with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Whether you are right at the beginning of your journey with IBD or have been living with your condition for years and feel like you have tried almost everything, there are things you can do everyday, beyond the medication you are taking, to help you take back control.
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We are all wonderfully unique and what works for one person may not work for another so please seek help and advice before changing your diet to work out the right way forward for you.