Colon cleansing, a manner of emptying the bowels to promote general health, has been practiced worldwide in waves of popularity for thousands of years, including recently during the 1940s and again in the early 21st century. Unlike prescribed bowel cleanse products used before medical tests, homemade colon cleanses vary drastically in contents, application methods and safety risks.
Reasons for Colon Cleanse
Chronic diseases may reflect our bodies' imbalance, and health practices from acupuncture to alternative medicine with herbal products aim to ease symptoms by treating this imbalance in different ways. Proponents of colon cleansing suggest that removal of unhealthy bowel toxins can improve arthritis, asthma, and other diseases by improving healthy bacteria levels and boosting immune function.
Ingredients in Colon Cleanse Recipes
Colon cleanses consist of either swallowed products or applied irrigations. Either may be provided by a colon health practitioner. Recipes for swallowed products can also be made at home; homemade colon cleanses are often liquids like teas or juice and smoothie products. Common ingredients are filled with foods like fruits or seeds, particularly psyllium seed, which contain high amounts of fiber. Grain products such as wheatgrass and juiced vegetables such as celery and spinach juices are ingredients that are low in fat and that provide essential body nutrients.
Risk of Homemade Colon Cleanses
Colon cleanses that are full of fiber and are primarily liquid encourage movement of foods, especially fats, through the bowels. Although this effect eases constipation, it also increases the risk of dehydration secondary to diarrhea. Complete cleansing of the bowel also clears medications taken by mouth from the body, so these medicines will no longer have the same effect on treated diseases. For example, medication to treat hypertension might not maintain safe blood pressure levels during a colon cleanse diet.
Alternatives to Homemade Colon Cleanses
The theory behind colon cleansing at home is sound, because colon cleanse recipes and diets recommend using fresh fruits, green vegetables, whole grains, and nut or seed products instead of eating processed or sugary foods. This type of diet, combined with high water intake, is healthful for the colon and the entire body. To ensure safety, complete cleanses or elimination of any food group from the diet should not be performed without the advice and assistance of a health professional.
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