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Tea Diet for Colon Cleansing

Nov 10, 2010 | By Milo Dakota
Tea Diet for Colon Cleansing
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If you've heard about the benefits of colon cleansing but are reluctant to subject yourself to an invasive office procedure that involves the insertion of tubes and fluids into your rectum, a gentler option is available: drinking tea. Using tea to clean your colon takes longer -- days instead of minutes -- but teas containing laxatives may remove toxins from your colon as effectively as other methods.

Purpose of Colon Cleanse

The purpose of a colon cleanse is to remove built-up toxins in your body by flushing out your digestive system and giving it a clean start. Accumulated toxins and mucus in your colon can clog your cells and choke your organs, according to Roni DeLuz, a registered nurse and naturopathic doctor. She recommends following a colon cleanse at least once annually to relieve allergies, heartburn and fatigue. DeLuz says long-stored wastes in your colon can also cause serious illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. Benefits of colon cleansing include increased energy, stronger nails, shinier hair and fewer aches and pains, says De Luz.

Check Ingredients

Before you purchase a colon-cleansing tea, check its ingredients to make certain the herbs provide benefit without causing harm. Senna, for instance, is a stimulant laxative that works by loosening stools to create bowel movements. It is considered safe for short-term use but should not be used longer than a week without doctor's approval as you can become dependent on laxatives. On the other hand, peppermint tea, also marketed for colon cleansing, has no laxative effect and is more often used to relieve diarrhea. Peppermint tea should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, people with gallstones or anyone who suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease. Some colon-cleansing teas contain more than a half dozen different herbs. Be careful to check out each for possible side effects or interactions with other medications you may be taking.

What to Eat

You needn't follow any special diet when drinking colon cleansing tea, although eating a lot of high-fiber foods such as fruit, vegetables and whole grains will help your colon function properly. Meat and processed foods are harder to digest and blamed by some proponents of detoxification for creating colon dysfunction. Drink plenty of water during a colon cleanse, because cleanses may cause dehydration, according to Dr. Michael Picco of the Mayo Clinic.

Colon Cleansing and Weight Loss

You will almost certainly lose weight -- perhaps 1 lb. per day -- but this will be from a loss of waste material and not fat. The water weight will return as soon as you discontinue drinking the tea. You will also begin to store wastes in your colon once you discontinue the cleanse, but may not regain as much as you lost if you begin eating foods that naturally prevent constipation. Some colon cleansing diets recommend following a liquid diet for additional weight loss. These diets, which may include drinking vegetable and fruit juices along with your tea, will help you lose fat. But if you severely restrict your calorie intake you may slow your metabolism, making it difficult to keep off the weight when you eat solid foods again, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Considerations

Colon cleansing remains a controversial practice. DeLuz, who has co-authored a book on the subject, strongly advocates the practice. But Dr. Picco says no evidence exists to support claims about the health benefits of colon cleansing. Drinking tea may be a safer choice than colon irrigation, which Dr. Picco says can be dangerous if not performed by a reliable professional under sanitary conditions. Discontinue taking teas containing senna if you experience rectal bleeding, dizziness or unusual fatigue.

References

Article reviewed by Jason Dean Last updated on: Nov 10, 2010

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