Article summary:
- Learn where toxins come from and how your body cleanses itself naturally
- Discover the best colon cleansing methods for you
- Understand what health behaviors to take on
- Determine what to look for in your colon cleansing products
Toxins happen. They are a natural part of life.
You encounter them in your environment. Every time you eat, digestion produces toxins as it converts food particles into energy. When your colon is working well, it moves waste through before any problems develop.
But if your body is not functioning as it should, waste products can build up in your colon (aka your large intestine). This can compromise your immune system and harm your health.
What can you do to protect your health?
When it comes to your bowels, you don’t have to take enemas or colonics to look after your gut health.
Clear toxins with colon cleansing
Your colon is perfectly designed to detoxify itself. But modern life adds toxins. From the air pollution you breathe to the heavy metals you eat in contaminated food.
These harmful elements disrupt cellular metabolism. In your colon, they create health problems. These can include issues such as inflammatory bowel disease and can lead to potentially dangerous large intestine widening. Gut imbalances can also damage essential protein complexes in your bowel.
So, what are the best ways to cleanse and detox your colon? Let‘s explore to discover precisely how to look after your digestive health in the best way possible.
How to do a natural colon cleanse
When you follow a healthy lifestyle, your liver, kidneys, and digestive tract will work hard to support you and keep your immune system strong. But it’s really easy to get out of balance, especially when you are feeling stressed.
Some people turn to a medical procedure such as colonic irrigation or enemas to colon cleanse. But enemas and other such colon cleansing methods can be very harsh on your system, and they come with potential side effects, including:
- Bowel perforation
- Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
- Dizziness and nausea
- Infection
Sometimes, you may need to undergo colonic irrigation or an enema to prepare for a medical treatment like a colonoscopy. But for a natural colon cleanse, you don‘t need to do these. A natural colon cleanse can be done by doing the following:
Follow a healthy diet
Scientific evidence shows that following a healthy diet is one of the best ways to look after your digestive health. But what exactly is a healthy diet? Here are the most important things you need to know:
- Choose lots of fresh fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, carrots, and Brussels sprouts. Their fiber helps keep you regular.
- Whole grains are high in fiber too. Eating them encourages bowel movements, helping your body clear itself of toxins.
- Eat plenty of naturally fermented food such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and cultured drinks like kombucha, and you’ll help your digestive system cleanse naturally.
Eliminate problem foods
Scientific and medical evidence also shows that eating a lot of red and processed meats may cause colon cancer by damaging your colon’s cells. Other things to limit or avoid include tobacco, alcohol, and other animal fats.
Choose juices
Drinking juices regularly can help eliminate constipation. That’s because juicing is a good way to get plenty of fiber, and fiber is essential for a healthy gut. Raw fruits and vegetables also contain many nutrients, as well as sorbitol and fructose—natural sugars that act as laxatives.
But if your juicer separates the fiber from the things you are juicing, you may not get the same benefits as you would by consuming whole foods. One way around this is to make smoothies rather than juices so that you keep all the fiber that is necessary for your health.
Drink plenty of water
Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water may well be the missing link in your lifestyle. Water flushes harmful substances out of your body and cleanses your bowel of toxins. Try warming a cup of water and squeezing lemon juice into it for a morning health drink.
Choose herbal teas
Some people really struggle to drink enough water. If you simply don’t like the taste of plain water, try sipping ginger or lemon tea throughout the day. Or try making your own herbal teas by growing mint or other herbs you like and steeping them in hot water. You will want to avoid too much black tea, though, as it tends to dehydrate.
Maintain a healthy weight
If you are obese or overweight, you have an increased risk of colon cancer. By maintaining a healthy weight, you decrease your risk. Fortunately, a good nutritionist can help you with your weight loss goals and finding colon cleanses that are right for you.
Exercise
We all know that regular exercise aids weight loss, but moving your body also benefits your bowels. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, increasing your physical activity in frequency, duration or intensity can make you up to 40% less likely to suffer colon cancer, according to Stop Colon Cancer Now. That’s because regular exercise improves blood flow, improves metabolism, reduces insulin levels, and encourages bowel movements.
Get plenty of sleep
Scientific evidence shows that sleep deprivation has many harmful effects on your body. If you struggle to get to sleep or wake up regularly at night, you may be more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal diseases such as acid reflux, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer.
You may be able to improve your sleep if you:
- Go to bed and get up at the same time every day
- Spend more time outdoors during the daytime
- Avoid screens in the evening
- Do most of your eating earlier in the day.
Give a saltwater flush a try
If you have tried a variety of natural colon cleanses and would prefer not to take a supplement, a saltwater flush could relieve constipation and get you feeling right again. One study showed that when paired with gentle yoga stretches, drinking saltwater on an empty stomach helped clear participants’ bowels, making it a good choice for a natural colon cleanse.
Seek medical advice
If you really feel in need of a colon cleanse, speak to your doctor first. Though bowel cleanses may have health benefits, if you are suffering adverse symptoms, it may be due to an undiagnosed health problem. Make sure you choose a doctor you trust to support and guide you. Engaging in regular health checks is one of the best ways to look after your colon health long-term.
Make life easy
Sometimes it’s hard to stay in control. If you’re struggling to stay balanced, perhaps it’s time to choose some colon cleansing products for additional support. For the best results, look for colon cleanses with natural ingredients that have been medically reviewed and have limited, if any, side effects. And make sure to get familiar with the health benefits of every single nutrient before you buy.
What you need to know about colon cleanse supplements
If you suffer occasional bouts of constipation or struggle to pass stool on a regular basis, a good quality colon cleanse supplement can help you stay regular – and reduce toxin buildup in your colon and your body.
But what should you look for in a supplement? Here are some of the best, medically reviewed nutrients:
Enzymes
Your body makes enzymes for digestion and for metabolism. Digestive enzymes break down the food you eat into absorbable molecules. Metabolic enzymes drive every chemical reaction in your body. In fact, it would be impossible for your body to digest anything – or even function – without enzymes. Your body produces enzymes such as protease, lipase, and amylase. But if you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or low stomach acid, boosting your enzyme levels may aid digestion.
Blue-green algae and spirulina
Blue-green algae and spirulina supplements have many nutritional properties. Consuming them is useful when it comes to colon cleanses as they can positively alter your microbiome. Not only that, blue-green algae and spirulina contain amino acids that aid digestion. And they also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Probiotics
The live microorganisms in naturally fermented foods contain probiotics that boost the good bacteria in your gut. But depending on where you live, finding these products can be a challenge. If you don’t fancy making them at home, you can take a probiotic supplement like Flora Infused to enjoy their beneficial effects.
Oxygenated magnesium
Colon cleanses with oxygenated magnesium carries oxygen straight into your digestive tract. There it works gently to help clear old waste from the colon. In fact, the oxygen does double-duty: it softens waste and neutralizes toxins.
Senna
Senna is one of the oldest herbal remedies for constipation and other digestive disorders. Drink it in tea or take it as a supplement for a natural colon detox. Don’t take senna for long periods of time, though, as long-term use may lead to liver damage.
Dandelion root
Dandelion root is a traditional medicine for easing digestion and relieving gas and constipation. Research shows that it supports colon health and may help reduce your risk of colon cancer. Plus, it is safe and non-toxic, making it ideal for long-term use.
Licorice
Licorice helps soothe indigestion, and while more research is needed until the experts know for sure, it may also help clear gut infections. Licorice is another herb that’s frequently used in colon cancer prevention.
Ginger
Ginger has been long used to ease digestion and reduce intestinal bloating and gas. It’s also a popular anti-inflammatory and is a traditional medicine for treating nausea.
Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil is another ingredient often used to treat digestive disorders. Scientists believe it dulls the pain receptors in your large intestine, which is why so many irritable bowel sufferers swear by it. Peppermint also has antibacterial and antifungal effects.
Bentonite clay
Bentonite clay is a popular colon cleansing ingredient because it sticks to toxins in your colon, helping detoxify your digestive tract. Evidence also suggests it can also help boost the good bacteria in your gut, making it an excellent product to cleanse the colon.
L-glutamine
L-glutamine is an amino acid thought to improve gut health and prevent harmful bacteria from entering your digestive tract. It’s also taken to ease irritable bowel syndrome and soothe abdominal cramps.
Psyllium Husks
This bulk-forming laxative traps water in your small intestine, increasing the amount of water in your stool and helping you have a bowel motion. It has also been shown to positively change your microbiome and is especially potent if you have constipation.
Aloe vera
Some colon cleansing products contain aloe vera as its juice is a mild laxative that helps combat constipation. Aloe vera also has anti-inflammatory properties, and it seems to be effective at easing irritable bowel syndrome.
Try colon cleansing to detox your bowels
The best way to detox your colon would be to make healthy lifestyle choices:
- Get plenty of fiber in your diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Get enough sleep.
- Stay hydrated.
- Avoid junk foods and foods known to harm the colon.
And, of course, make sure to get regular check-ups with your doctor.
Quite simply, the cleaner your colon, the better it can handle the toxins it encounters daily.
We know, however, that living a healthy lifestyle can be a challenge. As hard as we may try, our colons can get backed up and need a good cleansing. You have options like colonic irrigation, and some people use enemas. Home remedies like juice cleanses and natural supplements like Cleanse Infused Plus may be the easiest and safest.
If you have severe pain or discomfort, you should see a doctor first before you cleanse the colon. And it’s always advisable to seek medical advice before starting a new regime and speak to your doctor about any concerns you may have.
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