Many people struggle to lose weight on traditional diet plans that emphasize reducing calorie consumption and exercising more frequently. Cleanse diets provide a fast weight loss alternative that may be more appealing. A colon cleanse diet supposedly removes toxins from your system while helping you lose weight. Some medical professionals believe colon cleanse diets could be dangerous, so discuss cleansing with a physician to ensure it is safe for you.
Colon Cleanse Diets
A variety of diet plans claim to cleanse your colon of accumulated waste and toxins. Colon cleanse plans most commonly feature fresh fruits and vegetables. Small portions of whole-grain products may be permitted, but most cleanse plans forbid sugar, processed foods, meat and caffeinated beverages.
A typical colon cleansing diet lasts 7 to 10 days. Dieters must eat raw fruits and vegetables for the duration of the cleanse. Homemade fruit juices and filtered water are acceptable beverages, but all other food is usually forbidden. Some colon cleanse plans, such as the juice fast, allow dieters to only drink juice for 10 days.
Cleanse Supplements
Colon cleansing involves changing your diet to emphasize fresh, unprocessed foods. Many dieters also take cleansing supplements to cause frequent bowel movements. Psyllium husks, which increase in size when they contact water, form a bulky mass in the colon. This initiates bowel movements and supposedly clears toxins from the intestines. Dieters use psyllium and other herbal laxatives to make bowel movements more frequent.
Weight Loss
A common effect of a short-term colon cleansing diet is weight loss. When you restrict your diet to include only fruits and vegetables, your calorie consumption dramatically decreases. This causes your body to burn fat and muscle tissue to provide itself with energy. Increasing the frequency of your bowel movements by taking a laxative supplement clears your intestines of waste materials. This causes your body to shed extra pounds.
Warning
Although a colon cleansing diet may seem like a good way to lose weight, it can be dangerous. Colon cleanse plans severely restrict your caloric intake, which may cause nutrient deficiencies, dizziness or fainting. According to Harvard Medical School, waste does not accumulate on the walls of your intestines, making a colon cleanse unnecessary. While you may lose weight during the cleanse, most dieters rapidly regain weight after resuming a normal diet. Discuss your colon cleanse and weight loss goals with a physician to find a diet plan that works for you.
References
- New York University Langone Medical Center; Colon Cleansing: Don't Be Misled By the Claims; Larry Lindner
- University of Cincinnati Health News; Fiber---Not Fast-Fix Colon Cleansing Products---Key to Colorectal Health, UC Experts Advise; Amanda Harper; February 2009
- Go Ask Alice; Colon Cleanse; August 2008
- Medline Plus: Blond Psyllium
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