Colon cleansing involves removing excess fecal matter and nonspecific toxins from the digestive tract. Little scientific evidence supports the efficacy of colon cleansing as necessary to maintain health. However, practitioners of colon cleansing suggest certain foods and herbs as part of the cleansing process.
Theory
An unhealthy colon accumulates nonspecific toxins that can move into the liver or bloodstream, according to Alive.com. Springclean-cleanse.com claims that colon cleansing can help a person maintain good health, lose weight and feel greater energy.
Foods
Fruit and vegetable juices contain vitamins and minerals that benefit the digestive system. Fiber from foods such as barley, beans, flax seed, oats, peas, rice, turnips and whole wheat can contribute to a healthy colon. Foods such as alfalfa, spirulina and wheatgrass have a high chlorophyll content, which can soothe tissue in the digestive tract and help the body obtain more oxygen and eliminate nonspecific toxins, according to Alive.com.
Herbs
Cascara sagrada contains anthraquinones that act as laxatives and help strengthen the walls of the colon, suggests HolisticHelp.net. Chickweed relieves constipation, eliminates nonspecific toxins and strengthens the muscles of the stomach. Slippery elm can help relieve both constipation and diarrhea as well as soothe the lining of the intestines. Senna is a purgative that stimulates the peristaltic contractions of the digestive tract to remove fecal matter. Rhubarb contains anthraquinones that promote bowel movements and tannins that reduce inflammation in the colon and relieve diarrhea. Psyllium contains mucilage to absorb water, contributing to bulky stools that trigger the contractions of the colon that lead to bowel movements. HolisticHelp.net recommends drinking plenty of water to prevent obstruction in the colon from the bulky stools.
Time Frame
A raw food diet is ideal for people who want to cleanse over a long period of time without relying on herbal supplement pills. Individuals cleansing their colon through foods and herbs should eat fruit in the morning, because the body's natural digestion cycle prefers cleansing in the morning, according to Springclean-cleanse.com. HolisticHelp.com recommends consuming the herb cascara sagrada as a tea at night to stimulate the bowel because it can take between 6 and 12 hours to work.
Considerations
Junk foods can clog or irritate the colon, resulting in nausea and stomach pain, cautions Springclean-cleanse.com. They recommend avoiding pasta, chicken, fish, red meat and turkey during the process of colon cleansing because the body requires more time to digest those foods than fruits, vegetables and herbs. A diet that includes excessive amounts of low-fiber refined carbohydrates can destroy bacteria in the intestines that contribute to a healthy colon, according to Alive.com. Consult a doctor before taking any herbs or supplements for colon cleansing in order to understand their side effects and possible interactions with drugs you may already take.
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