What Do You Need to Cleanse the Colon?

What Do You Need to Cleanse the Colon?
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Many consumers express fear that pervasive exposure to environmental toxins affects immune functioning and overall health. They claim that cleansing the colon removes dangerous toxins from your body and improves wellness. Colon cleanses involve changing your diet, taking supplements and increasing activity levels. Proponents of colon cleanses say that by eliminating excess waste, overall health improves significantly and noticeably.

Purpose

The purpose of a colon cleanse is to clear the intestines of waste materials. The rationale behind a cleanse is to eliminate harmful toxins that accumulate in bodily waste. These toxins include preservatives, food additives, pesticides and air pollutants to which many people are exposed daily. Flushing the colon removes waste and clears toxins from the body, promoting good health and increasing energy.

Time Frame

Most colon cleanses require three or four days to complete. The cleanse itself involves changing your diet, taking herbal supplements and exercising frequently. Following a cleanse, many people choose to maintain some diet changes to increase bowel movements and continue eliminating toxins from their bodies.

Features

People undertaking a colon cleanse begin by eliminating junk food, soda, black tea, coffee, alcohol, meats, starchy vegetables, white rice and pasteurized milk from their diets, according to the website Colon Cleansing Guru. Boosting fiber intake promotes regular bowel movements that flush toxins from the colon. Choose whole fruits, beans, oatmeal, whole grains or nuts to incorporate more fiber into your diet. Eat yogurt containing active cultures to repopulate your bowels with healthy bacteria. To remain hydrated and stimulate bowel movements, people on a colon cleanse drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Some people undertaking colon cleanses use a colon-cleansing supplement. These often contain herbs such as white oak, gentian, goldenseal, psyllium or slippery elm, according to the website Colon Cleanse. Colon-cleansing products stimulate frequent bowel movements to eliminate waste from the digestive system.

Benefits

Proponents of colon cleansing claim it boosts energy, improves immune functioning and eliminates gastrointestinal problems. Frequent bowel movements clear the colon of waste, which causes weight loss. The website Colon Cleanse reports that colon cleanses reduce symptoms of constipation, headaches, body odor, sinus problems, fatigue and general feelings of being unwell.

Considerations

The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the manufacture and sale of herbal supplements. People undertaking a colon cleanse may use a cleansing product that contains unsafe ingredients or is ineffective. Improper colon-cleansing techniques may be unsafe and exacerbate your symptoms. Consult a doctor before beginning a colon cleanse to determine if it is a safe, healthy choice for you. Your medical symptoms may be a sign of a serious condition that cannot be improved through colon cleansing.

References

Article reviewed by Pamela Goldstein Last updated on: Oct 21, 2010

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