Maintaining a healthy colon through a proper diet is not the chore that some people believe. While it does mean limiting or possibly eliminating various types of food from your meals each day, the truth is that you can keep your colon healthy and still enjoy a varied diet. Here are some suggestions on what you can eat and minimize your chances of ever developing a problem with your colon.

First, there is the matter of meats. While red meats have a lot of protein, they can be unkind to your colon. Choose to go with white meats instead, including poultry. You can augment your need for protein by also including various types of beans, eggs, and fish in your meals. While an occasional hamburger is not likely to cause distress, chances are you will soon find that you don’t miss red meats at all.

Processed meats should also be kept to a minimum. While making a sandwich with luncheon meat is convenient and usually tasty, it is not in the best interests of your colon. Instead of making sandwiches with processed meats, prepare your own chicken or turkey salad from meats you cooked yourself. You control the amount of preservatives and still have the convenience of a quick meal when and as needed.

Another important aspect of eating for proper colon health is to get enough fiber in your diet. Instead of consuming breads made from bleached flours, go with whole grain products instead. Not only does the whole grains have more nutrients, they also will add more bulk to your diet and help keep the walls of the colon cleaner. While it may take a little effort to get used to whole grains if you’ve consumed white bread all your life, you may soon find that the additional flavor of whole wheat or oatmeal bread is more appealing anyway.

Vary your fiber intake in order to keep your diet interesting. Enjoy pasta, rice, and various types of whole grain cereals. When tossing a green salad, add in fiber sources like chickpeas and lentils to add taste as well as bulk. Enjoy as many fruits and vegetables as you like. Not only do they add fiber, they also contain nutrients that help to strengthen your immune system, a factor that is important for both your colon and your general health.

Many people know that calcium is necessary for strong bones, but did you know that it is also important to colon health? Dark green vegetables, salmon and other types of fish, different soy products, and many dark green vegetables can provide plenty of calcium. This means you don’t have to rely strictly on milk to get enough calcium, which may be important if you have any type of lactose problem. Along with your food intake, always make sure any multi-vitamin you take has a reasonable amount of calcium included.

When it comes to vitamins themselves, vitamin D and folic acid are very helpful in maintaining colon health. A little time spent in the sun each day will go a long way toward replenishing your body’s vitamin D reserves. Eggs and salmon also contain significant amounts, and can help increase your chances of warding off the development of colorectal cancer.

Above all, get plenty of fluids. Stick with water and juices that are not loaded with extra sugar. Some of the fluids you need each day are contained in the foods you eat, so augmenting with a reasonable amount of water during the day will keep your system hydrated properly and add to your overall health, including your colon.

Keep in mind that if you have some sort of colitis or bowel problem, your diet will need to change. For example, if you are in the middle of an colitis attack, fiber is not likely to be a good idea. Working with your doctor, along with employing a little trial and error, will help you determine what foods are safe to consume during an attack, and what must be avoided until the attack subsides.