Colon cleansing is a type of alternative health practice designed to treat various illnesses and health conditions, although there is no medical evidence to support the claims of healing. Colon cleansing procedures use various foods and substances to help remove waste from the digestive tract. Consuming raw brown rice in an attempt to cleanse your colon may increase your risk of food poisoning.
Purpose
Proponents of colon cleansing promote this practice as a way of flushing toxins from your body in an attempt to promote weight loss and reduce feelings of depression, headaches and poor memory. Colon cleansing substances help increase the frequency of bowel movements, often causing diarrhea and abdominal pain. Other possible side effects of colon cleansing include headaches, dizziness and bad breath.
Uncooked Rice
Brown rice is a nutritious source of fiber. Eating the rice raw decreases the digestibility of the aleurone layer within the cellulose wall. The uncooked grain coat provides only about 25 percent digestibility, while the cooked rice provides as much as 65 percent digestibility, making the raw form of brown rice harder to digest and less nutritious than the cooked version.
Bacteria
One of the main drawbacks of consuming raw brown rice in an attempt to cleanse your colon is the risk of foodborne bacteria, such as certain varieties of bacillus. Rice, as well as some other starchy foods, is the likely host of a type of bacillus infection that contaminates raw produce and causes vomiting. In addition to vomiting, food poisoning from bacillus may cause abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea. Symptoms usually occur within 6 hours of consuming the contaminated food and may continue for about 24 hours.
Considerations
Talk to your doctor before performing a colon cleansing procedure, especially if you suffer from chronic health conditions. Although colon cleansing may increase the frequency of bowel movements, it is unlikely to provide health benefits. The New York University Langone Medical Center recommends letting your colon take care of itself while you get plenty of exercise, drink plenty of fluids and consume nutritious sources of fiber, such as fruits and vegetables.
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