Some people report having only two or three bowel movements per week, instead of having them daily, as is ideal. To detoxify the colon, eat a high-fiber, whole foods diet that will provide the intestinal "broom" to cleanse the large intestine.
Drink at least six to eight, eight-ounce glasses of filtered water daily. Inadequate water intake can result in constipation. Consume seeds, herbal teas or supplements that tone the colon and help cleanse it.
Drink Lemon Juice in Hot Water Before Breakfast
Step 1
Before eating breakfast, begin each day with the juice of half a lemon squeezed into a cup of hot water. Drink it cool to stimulate peristalsis of the colon. If you make this a daily habit, you will establish regular, daily bowel movements.
Step 2
Eat a whole foods diet to cleanse the colon. That includes all types of vegetables, fruits, whole grains such as brown rice, millet, oats, quinoa and barley to provide the fiber to detoxify the large intestine. Foods made from refined sugars and flour have little fiber. The nutritional guidelines found in the matrix called "My Food Pyramid" provide a realistic outline of foods to help detoxify the body. Designed by the US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), the pyramid recommends healthy adults also eat lean proteins, nuts, legumes, eggs, low-fat dairy foods and non-saturated fats.
Step 3
Eat yogurt that has live cultures such as lactobacillus acidophilus or bifidus, to feed the friendly flora in the intestines. This will greatly improve your ability to digest your food and detoxify the colon. Read labels, as many commercial yogurts are labeled "all-natural" but do not have live cultures. If you are allergic to dairy, you can take probiotic supplements that are dairy-free.
Step 4
Consider a directed cleanse by consuming only whole fruits, whole vegetables and cooked whole grains for one to four days. Add flaxseed oil and drink herbal teas to move the bowels. This is a whole foods detox diet that provides the vitamins, minerals and fiber needed to cleanse the colon. Gradually add small amounts of protein to return to your regular diet.
Things You'll Need
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Whole grains: oats, millet, brown rice, quinoa, barley
- Live-culture yogurt or
- Probiotics
- Herbal teas: senna, cascara sagrada, or buckthorn root
- Flax seeds
- Water
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