Detox Kidneys & Colon Cleanse

By design, the kidneys and the colon generally do a top notch job keeping the body free of toxins. That said, diet can certainly help your kidneys and your colon achieve and maintain optimal function. Drinking plenty of fluids and eating high fiber foods are two simple health practices that you can adopt to detox your kidneys and cleanse your colon naturally.

Function

The kidneys detoxify the body by filtering and removing waste products and excess fluid via the urine, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Kidney function is a complex chemical process that mostly takes care of itself; however, proper function depends on adequate fluids and moderate salt intake. To detox your kidneys, start by increasing the amount of water you drink daily, and reduce the amount of salt you ingest. Limit quantities of processed foods especially, as they tend to contain high levels of sodium and other food additives that may be toxic to humans, according to the FDA and the health and wellness website SixWise.

Fiber

The colon's primary function is to absorb vitamins, minerals, water, and salts from the partially digested food it receives from the small intestine. Although this process happens naturally and needs very little help from us, a diet low in fiber makes the colon's job harder and often leads to problems, including constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. One of the easiest ways to cleanse your colon is simply to add more fiber-rich foods to your diet, which helps increase the colon's efficiency. Whole grain cereals, fruits with skins intact, such as apples and pears, and vegetables such as broccoli are all excellent choices.

Kidney Considerations

Kidney stones occur in over half a million Americans annually, according to the National Kidney Foundation, and diet is often a factor. Chemicals naturally present in the urine, including calcium, oxalate, urate, cystine, xanthine and phosphate, cause kidney stones, often when too little water is consumed. Other potential causes include eating too much salt, or ingesting too much fructose, a sugar found in table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. Intense pain on either side of the lower back and blood in the urine are common symptoms. To detox your kidneys and avoid kidney stones, watch your sugar and salt intake, and keep yourself hydrated.

Colon Considerations

Colon bacteria play a vital role in overall health, according to Real Age, as they assist in immune function. Eating apples provides an easy method to cleanse your colon of harmful bacteria and reset the colon's bacterial balance to aid immune function. Apples contain pectin, a fiber that ferments in the colon and supports the growth of healthy bacteria, or probiotics. Other foods which help cleanse the colon and rejuvenate probiotics include asparagus, garlic, onions and oats.

Warning

Scientific evidence that attests to the effectiveness of detox diets and programs remains scant, according to Dr. Catherine Collins of St. George's Hospital in London, and some detox programs may lead to potassium depletion and bowel problems. When it comes to detoxification, the kidneys and the colon have it down to a science, and rarely require our involvement through elaborate and costly detox plans. Speak to your doctor before you embark on any formal detoxification program.