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Archive for September, 2011

Getting rid of bodily waste and toxins is vital to maintaining a healthy body. So is the proper absorption of vitamins and electrolytes. All of these are accomplished by your colon. Thus, if your colon malfunctions, it can lead to a variety of health problems including constipation, IBS or irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue, and diarrhea to name a few. An unhealthy colon may also lead to cancer.

Colon cleansing is an essential part of maintaining colon health. There are a number of ways by which you can do this but the best way is to cleanse your colon naturally through nutritional changes. Many illnesses have been prevented just by simply altering one’s eating habits. It is simple to do, fairly inexpensive, and in the long run will afford you other long-term health benefits.

Dietary Modification – The Natural Way to Perform Colon Cleansing

One dietary modification that you can do is to incorporate more fiber-rich foods into your meals. Fiber helps your body get rid of stool by helping it move along quickly through the colon.

Take in twice as many vegetables as you normally do. Not only would this cleanse your digestive system, but it would also aid in the absorption of important vitamins and minerals. Green leafy vegetables are some of the best foods that help clean the colon.

Make whole grains and oats a regular breakfast staple and increase your fruit intake. Refrain from eating refined foods such as white rice and food that use white sugar as an ingredient. These types of food slow down colon function.

Cut down on meat and eliminate dairy products from your diet. If you are a regular milk drinker, you may want to try switching to soy milk and other alternatives. Meals with chicken, turkey and fish may be included a couple of times a week as long as you balance them with an adequate amount of fiber.

Drink lots of water – eight to ten glasses is the recommended daily intake. Water is a natural lubricant and makes for soft stools. As an alternative, you can also drink fresh fruit juice, but be careful not to take in too much.

Using herbs is another natural way to cleanse the colon. Herbs help flush out feces, keep the colon muscle functioning well, improve bowel movement, prevent toxins from building up, and destroy harmful bacteria and parasites. Some of the most popular herbs used in colon cleansing recipes are psyllium, cascara sagrada, beet root, cayenne pepper, dandelion root, aloe leaf, and ginger.

Exercise also promotes colon health. Leading an active lifestyle helps the organs and muscles of the body function well. It also contributes considerably to efficient colon function. You can perform simple exercises such as brisk walking or go regularly to the gym.

Maintaining colon health doesn’t have to be a complicated or expensive process. Commit to making a transition into eating healthier. Adopt some lifestyle changes and you may never have to worry about the risks of colon cancer.

If you have a problem with constipation, which option would you choose to remedy the situation?

Over The Counter (OTC) laxative drugs, enemas or purgatives?

Colon hydrotherapy?

Oxygen-based colon cleansers?

Herbal colon cleansers?

OTC laxative drugs usually take about eight to twelve hours to work their way through your system. They are usually taken with warm water the night before so that you experience results by morning. Colon Hydrotherapy needs to be conducted by a skilled technician using highly sterilized equipment. Oxygen-based colon cleansers (which use the oxidation process to "loosen" matter) may work for many, but they do not contain fiber which science has established, as necessary for optimal colon health1. All three of these methods cleanse only the colon—with no viable result on overall health. They do not help to enhance the performance of other eliminatory organs such as the liver, the kidneys, and skin.

Experts say herbal colon cleansers are the better choice because they aid the body in performing the elimination process naturally. They also help to support immune health because they help to maintain a balanced microflora2. Because they are herbal, these colon cleansers are not under the direct supervision of the FDA, but consumers who do their homework will recognize strong natural ingredients and be able to choose a reliable, quality product manufactured by a GMP-certified company.

When making your choice of a colon cleanser, remember these safety tips.

Don’t Become Dehydrated: The body loses fluids when using over–the-counter stimulant laxative drugs and purgatives. These colon cleansers work by absorbing water from the body. This could upset the balance of potassium, sodium, magnesium and phosphorous in the body and can affect the function of vital organs. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration when using any colon cleanser.

Avoid Addictive Colon Cleansers: Some colon cleansing methods simply purge the body of accumulated waste without engaging the peristaltic muscles of the colon (the muscles used to move food along the digestive tract, and ultimately to disposal). Prolonged use of such colon cleansers causes peristaltic muscles to lose their natural ability to contract leading to greater dependence on laxative drugs. There are a growing number of people who use laxative drugs as a means to lose weight. This is not safe and can present a number of health risks.

Don’t Wash Out Good Bacteria: Prolonged use of OTC laxative drugs and colon hydrotherapy treatment can lead to a weakened immune system since such treatments wash out necessary bacteria and the protective mucus lining. Good bacteria are needed to produce certain nutrients, immune cells and to maintain the colon health. 2

Consult your Doctor: If you suffer from frequent bouts of constipation or diarrhea you should consult your doctor who may want to perform a thorough examination. Ask your doctor about taking a colon cleansing product that adequately suits your needs.

Pregnant and Nursing Women are advised not to wait until after nursing before taking any medications since certain ingredients could harm or adversely affect baby’s delicate health. Such women should consult their doctors before taking any type of medication.

Allergen Sensitivities: Always check if the product contains gluten or other allergens that could trigger a reaction. Many colon cleansers are gluten free and allergen sensitive. Check for these and consult your doctor before taking any colon cleanser.

Colon Cleansing and Prescription Medicine: If you are taking prescription medicine, you should consult with your doctor before starting a colon cleanser program. Ingredients found in certain colon cleansers could effect, react with or dilute the efficacy of the prescription drug.

Medical Conditions: If you are suffering from diabetes do not use laxatives which could contain dextrose, fructose or sucrose–ingredients found in many natural laxatives. If you are suffering from an inflamed appendix or have a fever, or are suffering from vomiting, nausea, or other maladies or health disorders, it is advisable that you do not use a colon cleanser unless it is recommended by your doctor.

Safety for Children: Colon cleansers are not intended for children. Do not administer a colon cleanse product to your child without consulting your doctor first. Keep colon cleansers and other medicines away from the reach of children. Many laxative drugs come in the form of chocolates or flavored syrups which can be very tempting to children.

Proper Storage: Many colon cleansers require you to store them in a cool, dry place or keep them refrigerated. Read the instructions on the label and follow through on them for efficacy of ingredients.

Follow Instructions Carefully: There are colon cleansing programs that require restrictions on your diet. Some may even require you to fast. Others simply require you to drink 8 glasses of water. Read through all instructions carefully and follow them closely. Colon cleansing products will also include contraindications on the labels. Be careful to check if any of contraindications apply to your particular situation. Again,—it is important that you consult your doctor before choosing a colon cleansing method.

Safety is vital when choosing a colon cleansing product. A reliable, trusted manufacturer will ensure a quality product with ingredients that are safe for your body. Study the ingredients and how they work in the body. Many herbs have been studied extensively in recent research studies. The main aim of colon cleansing is not only to provide safe and immediate relief from constipation, but to aid in regulating your system for natural cleansing and elimination of waste.. Nutritional colon cleansing can help to strengthen the functions of the eliminatory organs, thus supporting optimal general health.

References:

Vopr Pitan. 1998 ;(1):39-42. Dietary fibers in diet therapy. PMID: 9606867 Infection and Immunity. 1973 July; 8(1): 30-35. Effect of Colon Flora and Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Growth In Vitro of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae. Department of Medicine, The Medical College of Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129.