Colon Cleansing Food Diet

The idea that toxins enter the body by eating unhealthy foods or by exposure to contaminants, and reside in the colon isn't new and neither is a diet for flushing away these toxins and fecal waste, according to the "Gale Encyclopedia of Diets." While advocates of colon cleansing offer anecdotal evidence of improved health, clinical studies do not confirm these personal findings. In some cases, colon-cleansing diets may be dangerous, so consult your doctor before using one.

Purpose

Reasons for starting a colon-cleansing diet include constipation; a desire to lose weight, or to boost health. A combination of easily digestible liquids and foods, taken for one day or longer, results in frequent bowel movements. Also called colonic irrigation, those who favor colon-cleansing diets claim they experience an enhanced immune system and increased energy, although clinical studies confirming these results are lacking, according to the "Gale Encyclopedia."

Fiber

Non-digestible dietary fiber swells in the stomach and absorbs water to make stools softer and bulkier. High fiber diets, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables or fiber supplements, may promote increased bowel movements, but Harvard Medical School says there is no indication that increased bowel movements are cleaning fecal matter from intestinal walls, since the intestines do not accumulate fecal waste as some colon-cleanse diet programs suggest.

Liquids

Some colon-cleansing diets consist only of liquids and may include juiced fruits or vegetables. Known as juice fasts, these all-liquid diets may result in diarrhea and the risk of dehydration if the dieter does not consume enough water to replace the fluids lost through diarrhea. See your doctor about the safety of an all-liquid diet for colon cleansing.

Some herbal teas are found in colon cleansing diets because they have a laxative effect on the intestines. These herbs include senna leaf, buckthorn, yellow dock, rhubarb root, dandelion root, cascara sagrada and licorice root, according to the "Gale Encyclopedia." The FDA does not regulate herbal supplements, so there is no guarantee of safety, purity or effectiveness.

Banned Foods

Colon-cleansing diets may restrict or eliminate foods considered toxic to the body, including caffeine, sugar, meat or poultry, junk foods and foods with additives. Dieters may also give up smoking, carbonated sodas and alcohol during the diet.

Considerations

Loss of fluids through loose bowel movements may upset the body's natural electrolyte balance and alter the healthy flora in the intestines, according to Harvard Health Publications. Long-term use of colon-cleansing diets may result in a serious medical condition called metabolic acidosis, which may require hospitalization. Follow a colon-cleansing diet only under a doctor's supervision.