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Apr 7, 2008 7:48 pm US/Eastern
Inside The Colon: The Vital Role In Immune System
MIAMI (CBS) ―
Most people might not pay attention to what happens to that cheeseburger and fries after it is consumed but some of the results might surprise you.
We chew food on average 10-30 times, swallow it which takes 4-8 seconds and churn it which takes 2-4 hours, then the food moves to the small intestines where the nutrients are absorbed for 3-5 hours.
"The average man eats about 50 thousand tons of food in a lifetime," said manager of 'The Bodies Exhibit' Lucy Lyons.
The 50 tons will go countless times through the intestinal tract which has the same neurotransmitters as the brain, and it is also very important for your immune system.
But people have to be aware that there are more than 700 different kinds of bacteria in their colon.
The bacteria helps us digest food, and through a process of fermentation, produce gas. The average person passes that gas about 13-14 times a day.
Excessive constipation can become life threatening with a medical condition called toxic megacolon, creating severe health problems.
You're colon does a lot for you, so remember, don't hate your guts.
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