Bowel-cleansing agents are used for both medical reasons and for alternative health practices. For example, prior to a screening test, such as a colonoscopy, your doctor may recommend that you utilize a bowel-cleansing agent to remove fecal matter. Bowel-cleansing agents may also be included in colon-cleansing kits. Proponents of colon cleansing believe that you suffer from fewer health problems when your body is detoxified.
Types
Preparations for bowel-cleansing purposes are typically only available by prescription. Your doctor recommends a certain brand and advises you to orally ingest the prep to stimulate the bowels. Examples of prescription bowel cleansing preparations are SuPrep Bowel Prep and MoviPrep. Brands of over-the-counter colon cleansers include OxyPowder, NuAge, Dual Action Cleanse and Colon Clean.
Features
The sodium phosphate and sodium sulfate ingredients found in bowel cleansing products work as laxatives. When ingested, you experience diarrhea, resulting in your bowels being emptied. Polyethylene glycol may be found in bowel cleansers as well. It absorbs water from the colon to make stools more frequent and softer. Magnesium and potassium may be added to colon-cleansing products to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Supplementary Efforts
Along with taking a bowel-cleansing agent, you need to make adjustments to your diet. Your doctor may recommend that you avoid consuming solid foods and instead follow a liquid diet in the days leading up to your medical procedure. When utilizing colon-cleansing supplements, you are typically asked to avoid foods high in fat and sugar, and to consume mostly fruits and vegetables.
Considerations
Due to the laxative effects of bowel-cleansing agents, be sure to maintain or even increase your water consumption while utilizing them. Otherwise, you may begin to suffer from dehydration. Signs of dehydration include dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth and difficulty concentrating. You should drink 8 to 12 glasses of water daily when using laxative products.
Warning
Some of the ingredients included in bowel-cleansing products may pose a danger to your health. Ingredients like sodium phosphate may cause a rise in your electrolyte levels. This condition is particularly dangerous to heart and kidney patients. Ingesting too much magnesium may also adversely affect kidney patients.
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