The Colon Cleanse Fruit & Vegetable Diet

Dr. Isabelle Moser says in her book, “How and When to Be Your Own Doctor,” that autointoxication occurs when unhealthy bacterial life forms amass in the bowel wall and the heavy mucus coating of the colon thicken as a host for putrefaction. Your body begins to take on toxic substances that can cause health complications and an overall sense of unwellness. Cleansing the colon with the popular fruit and vegetable diet helps regulate the digestive tract and effectively flush toxins from your bowels and colon. Always consult your doctor before beginning a cleansing diet.

Spinach

The Health Care Center recommends using spinach as part of the fruit and vegetable diet to detoxify the body and cleanse the colon. Spinach contains the compounds vitamins A and K, folate and iron. It's instrumental in replenishing magnesium to the system and facilitating proper digestion. The Colon Cleanse Advice website says that spinach releases constipation and promotes regular bowel movements to cleanse the colon. Additionally, the World’s Healthiest Foods website says spinach is rich in phytonutrient flavonoids, which are antioxidants that repel cancer-causing toxins in the body, such as the colon.

As a green leafy vegetable, the body requires a bit of dietary fat to absorb its nutrients properly. Steam or lightly saute spinach in a dollop of butter alternative or extra virgin olive oil, according to the Center for Young Women's Health. Regularly eat this veggie through the duration of the diet to cleanse the colon.

Turnip Greens

The main component of the diet, according to the Cancer Resource website, is fiber to help flush toxins and regulate digestion. The Mayo Clinic calculates that for every 1 cup of cooked turnip greens, 5g fiber release into the body. Much of this fiber is insoluble plant fiber, which passes quickly through the digestive tract and flushes away toxins and accumulated contaminants from the colon and bowel.

Consider eating a spinach and turnip green salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Eating vegetables raw helps obtain the most nutrients, as some are lost during the cooking process. Olive oil helps your body absorb associated vitamins and minerals; balsamic vinegar naturally breaks down fats hindering the digestive tract, according to the Center for Young Women's Health.

Apples

The Colon Cancer Resource Center says soluble fiber greatly reduces bowel and colon disorders. Eating apples as part of the fruit and vegetable diet delivers a high amount of soluble fiber necessary in cleansing the colon and eliminating contaminants.
Soluble fiber in apples dissolves in water to create a gel-like compound. It aids in lowering blood cholesterol and reducing toxin buildup within the body. The Mayo Clinic also affirms the role of soluble fiber in preventing diseases in the colon. Always eat the skin of the apple, which contains the most phytonutrients conducive to removing contaminants within the body.

Artichoke

Artichoke is among the best vegetables to eat as part of the colon cleanse fruit and vegetable diet. The Women and Health website affirms that insulin present in artichoke relieves irritable bowel syndrome that directly aggravates the colon, causing toxic buildup and general discomfort. Additionally, this vegetable is rich in manganese, fiber and folate, which reduces cancer-causing agents in the body and bloating associated with poor digestion. For a quick and tasty artichoke meal, steam a head of artichoke in garlic water. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over it. The high acid level of lemon also aids in colon cleansing.

Watermelon

The Healing Daily website says that watermelon is highly effective in flushing the colon of toxins by quickly moving through the stomach and taking associated waste with it. Additionally, the World’s Healthiest Foods website promotes the consumption of watermelon as an anti-inflammatory remedy for better colon health. Watermelon is highly concentrated with powerful antioxidants that attack free radicals, which accumulate in the colon’s lining.

When and How to Do It

The Healing Daily website says that a proper colon cleanse diet can take up to three to four weeks. Eat only fruits and vegetables four days out of the week. For the other three, supplement your diet with lean meats and fish as protein sources to avoid an unbalanced diet. Partaking in a regular fitness regimen helps facilitate a healthy digestive tract as well. Alternately, the Colon Cancer Resource website says the colon cleanse fruit and vegetable diet is also a preparatory measure generally done two weeks in advance of a colonoscopy. Depending on your current lifestyle and needs, you can safely partake in this diet every couple of months.

Side Effects

The colon cleanse fruit and vegetable diet is generally safe if done properly. Because the regimen can take up to three to four weeks, it's important to supplement your diet with the proper protein sources, such as lean meats and fish. Drinking adequate amounts of water and regularly exercising also encourages the removal of toxins while keeping the body balanced. If you don't keep your body nourished during the cleanse, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and dehydration can occur, the Mayo Clinic says.