Veganism is a diet that adheres exclusively to plant-based foods at the expense of all animal foods such as meat, seafood and dairy. The list of foods that you are allowed to eat includes vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, nuts and legumes. The advocates of a vegan colon cleanse claim that the diet can improve the health of your body. However, it may not be right for everybody.
Purpose
Advocates say the purpose of a colon cleanse, which is closely related to a detox diet, is to remove poisons and toxins by clearing excess mucus and congestion from your digestive system and neutralizing harmful organisms through the administration of water, natural foods and herbal substances. If you embark on a colon cleanse, then you should be aware of the pervasive and widespread skepticism for the diet among experts and medical professionals such as Professor Alan Boobis, toxicologist from the Imperial College London, who claims that the body's own detoxification systems are sophisticated enough to remove toxins without a change to the diet.
Fiber
Fiber is an indigestible portion of plants cells. There are two main types. Soluble fiber, which dissolves in water, slows the passage of food through your intestines, affecting the absorption of sugar into the blood. It's found in beans, oat bran, fruits and certain vegetables. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water, but it does speed up the passage of food through your digestive tract and increases fecal bulk. Wheat bran, whole grains, beans and vegetables are good sources.
Amount
According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the current recommendation for dietary fiber is 14 g per 1,000 calories consumed. However, it's also possible that too much fiber may reduce the amount of calcium, iron, zinc, copper and magnesium that is absorbed by your body from foods and supplements.
Effects
The idea behind eating clean, unprocessed plant-based foods is that they clean out the colon and improve the functions of the body. Fiber, for example, passes through the digestive system unchanged and quickly evacuates the colon. In normal conditions, it can be used to prevent constipation and diverticulosis.
Considerations
Plant-based foods are naturally high in many important nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, folate, vitamin C and vitamin E, but a vegan diet can be low in other necessary nutrients such as vitamin B12, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids, which almost exclusively exist in animal-based foods. Supplementation can help but may not be right for everybody. Therefore, you should be cautious; you may need to limit a vegan colon cleanse to a week or two at a time.
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