What do the Colon, Kidneys, and Skin have in Common? - Organs of Elimination

Terri Edwards
3 days ago
4 min read

What do the Colon, Kidneys, and Skin have in Common?
They are Organs of Elimination — Organs of Elimination - Colon, Kidneys, and Skin

Organs of Elimination: Colon, Kidneys, and Skin

Healthy organs of elimination, such as the colon, kidneys, and skin, are essential for maintaining health because they remove wastes that can harm the body (1).

We’re all exposed to things that can harm the body each day, external toxins such as pesticides, bacteria, and heavy metals, as well as internal toxins such as ammonia and urea produced through normal metabolic processes like protein metabolism (2).

Organs such as the colon, kidneys, skin, liver, lungs, bile ducts, and the lymphatic and glymphatic systems all work to remove toxins from the body each day.

If elimination (drainage) pathways are congested or blocked, detoxification is impeded, toxins do not leave the body as they should, and they recirculate, leading to chronic fatigue, bloating, constipation, and skin issues as cells and organs become damaged (3). Effective detoxification requires open elimination pathways.

Three main pathways of elimination, the colon, kidneys, and skin, are highlighted below.

The Colon

The colon removes harmful wastes (bacteria, food waste, mucus, and other compounds that can harm the body) by forming and expelling them in feces (4).

The ascending colon absorbs water and nutrients such as potassium, sodium, and chloride, and converts the more fluid substance into solid waste (stool) (5). As the stool moves into the transverse colon, absorption of water, salts, and electrolytes continues, undigested fiber is fermented, and the fecal matter is propelled to the descending colon. Feces are stored in the descending colon until the sigmoid colon contracts, increasing pressure and causing the stool to be emptied into the rectum, where it awaits elimination by defecation (5).

The two primary methods that move waste through the colon are peristalsis, or slow, rolling contractions that push stool through the colon, and haustral churning, or contractions of small pouches (haustra) that mix, compress, and move waste material (6). Peristalsis in the colon is primarily controlled by the enteric nervous system (ENS), modulated by hormones, and assisted by the gut microbiome (7).

Colon cells turn over every 3-7 days, allowing the gut to repair damage more quickly than most tissues (9).

Constipation can occur for many reasons: dehydration, low-fiber diet, sedentary lifestyle or physical inactivity, medication (ibuprofen, antacids), supplementation (iron, calcium), overconsumption of fatty foods, processed meats, and refined grains, and conditions like celiac disease (8).

Slow bowel transit time encourages the production of harmful substances in the body, and, when constipation becomes chronic, the intestinal barrier function is reduced (leaky gut), allowing toxins and bacteria to enter the body, create inflammation, and activate an immune system response (10). Over time, a leaky gut can lead to diseases like food allergies, diabetes, weight gain, cardiovascular disease, and bowel disorders (19).

Opening the colon pathway:

Restoring proper colon function is a multilayered process, as various systems, such as cellular energy (metabolic flexibility), elimination, detoxification, hormones, the nervous and immune systems, and the microbiome, are involved (11).

For example, when cellular energy (ATP) production is low, the gut can’t properly move waste (motility), create digestive substances (HCL, bile, enzymes), regulate immune function, or coordinate complex repair processes (12) (13).

General multi-faceted approach:

· Personalized, balanced, whole food diet

· Hydrate with clean water daily

· Personalized, regular physical activity

· Manage stressors

· Correct and heal gut damage (leaky gut)

· Correct nutrient insufficiencies/deficiencies

Tips for correcting constipation:

· Hydrate with clean water

· Include insoluble fiber, if tolerated, with foods like legumes, berries, spinach, whole apples, sunflower seeds, and walnuts

· Coffee induces bowel movement by stimulating muscarinic receptors in the colon, triggering smooth muscle contractions and boosting hormones (gastrin and CCK) that enhance colonic motility (14)

· Walk (comfortable pace) 10-15 minutes after meals for about 10-20 minutes (15)

The Kidneys

The kidneys filter about 52 gallons of blood each day, filtering all of the blood about 20-25 times daily, removing waste and harmful chemicals, and excreting them in urine (16). The kidney detox process includes glomerular filtration, passive diffusion, and active transport (16) (17).

The kidneys are responsible for excreting toxic products of metabolism, such as ammonia, urea, uric acid, and hormone metabolites, as well as heavy metals and excess nutrients such as sodium (17).

Poor blood flow, lack of energy (ATP), and toxic overload can damage the kidneys. Cellular energy (ATP) is necessary to pump out certain toxins. When cellular energy is insufficient, the kidneys can’t remove toxins, and they become damaged as toxins build up within the organ (17).

Opening the kidney pathway:

As with the colon, restoring proper kidney function is a multilayered process, as the kidneys are supported by various systems, including the cardiovascular (blood supply), endocrine (hormone), immune, and nervous systems (18).

General multi-faceted approach:

· Manage blood sugar levels and sodium intake through a personalized, balanced, whole-food diet

· Hydrate daily to move toxins through the kidneys

· Maintain a daily exercise (movement) routine for improved blood pressure

· Avoid toxins that damage the kidneys (NSAIDs, alcohol, excess phosphorus)

The Skin

The skin acts as a supportive detox organ through sweating, primarily eliminating waste such as heavy metals (lead and mercury), drugs, urea, salts, and compounds like BPA (20) (21).

When the kidneys are damaged, the skin, through sweat, serves as a backup, eliminating certain wastes, such as urea, to purge waste products not being cleared by the kidneys (22). Skin conditions, such as rosacea and psoriasis, can occur with poor kidney function as the body attempts to clear toxins through the skin and to control inflammation (23).

Opening the skin pathway:

General multi-faceted approach:

· Proper daily hydration

· Sweat with regular exercise, infrared saunas

· Consume a nutrient-dense, whole food diet that includes protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, B vitamins, and minerals like zinc

· Dry skin brushing before showering to stimulate lymphatic circulation, increase blood flow, and exfoliate dead skin cells

· Use gentle, non-toxic substances to cleanse and moisturize the skin

As you can see above, opening the elimination pathways can be complex, with several processes involved to restore proper function.

Proper nutrition through the foods we eat each day, proper hydration, movement (exercise), and managing stressors are foundational to a healthy body, as they each play a role in healthy elimination pathways.