Did you know……
- Women have a longer colon than men
- Estrogen and progesterone can profoundly affect the GI tract
- A woman’s stomach empties slower than a man’s, increasing the incidence of bloating
- A woman’s large intestine empties more slowly than a man’s, increasing risk of constipation
- Men have a colon shaped like a horseshoe, where a woman’s is more like a tangled-up slinky
Women’s gastrointestinal (GI) systems are different than that of men’s. Not only are women physically dissimilar, some organs also operate differently, and then there are hormones and their effects on the female GI tract. Continue reading to find out why women may want to add Cleanse Caps to their daily dose of Pura Cleanse to support digestion health and well-being.
A female colon is longer than the male colon, on average, about 10 centimeters longer. The theory on why women have a longer colon is in part to allow for more absorption of water or fluid during childbearing. The extra length in the colon creates extra twists and turns, making the colon shaped like a tangled-up slinky, which is why women tend to be more bloated and constipated compared to men.
In addition to a women’s colon being longer, the colon is interwoven with the uterus, the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes and the bladder. The colon has to navigate around all these organs. The only hardware men have is a small prostate gland and the bladder – that’s it! So in men, most of the colon is up in the abdomen where there’s a lot of room, whereas is women, the colon has to compete for space with the reproductive organs.
Hormones can also have an effect on the GI system. Women are twice as likely as men to have gallstones. Estrogen, a female hormone, raises cholesterol levels in the bile, thickening the bile and slowing gallbladder movement, which may ultimately lead to the development of gallstones. The effect is even greater in pregnancy as estrogen levels rise. This helps explain why many women develop gallstones when pregnant or after having a baby. Likewise, if you take birth control pills or menopausal hormone therapy, you have a greater chance of developing gallstones.
Research has shown that bowel transit time slows significantly during the last two weeks of a woman’s monthly cycle with a marked rise in digestive complaints right before a period starts. This in part may be attributed to how slowly a woman’s stomach and intestines empty during the last two weeks of the cycle compared to the first two weeks. Post-menopausal women often see a similar delay and it is quite common to experience constipation. Based on this information, it appears that a decline in ovarian hormones is strongly linked to a rise in symptoms of GI distress.
In addition to estrogen, progesterone can also have significant effects on the health of the GI tract. The imbalances of these hormones can influence the movement of food through the intestines—some by speeding the process up, causing diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain; others by slowing things down and causing bloating and constipation. Estrogen and progesterone can have really profound effects on the GI tract.
It is extremely important to be aware of and improve gut and bowel habits. Healing the digestive system and maintaining proper elimination are the simplest ways to see big improvements in our health. Pura Cleanse supports cleansing, healthy digestion, bowel regulation and detoxification. Cleanse Caps offer a gentle and natural relief from occasional constipation, which can help woman combat the impact of hormones and female anatomy. Our products work with your body’s natural elimination channels to help support the removal of unwanted waste and toxins and allow you to enjoy more vibrant health.