Article summary:
- Find out if colon cleanses actually work
- Learn why it may be a good idea to do regular cleanses
- Discover the reason we need to cleanse more than our ancestors
- Uncover the connection between colon cleansing and weight loss
- Get insight into the best colon cleanse for you
Colon cleansing gets a lot of attention in the area of health and wellness. (We know that we talk about it a lot – and for a good reason.)
You’ll find benefits listed that include everything from weight loss to better moods to improved heart health and more. You can also find many different ways to cleanse, such as colon cleanse detox soups, apple cider vinegar, and colon cleanse supplements.
Yet, we understand one question needs to be answered. Does colon cleansing work?
In this article, we answer that question and then go further to discuss questions, including:
- Is colon cleansing a good idea?
- Will it help you lose weight?
- Is there a proper way to do it?
- What is the best way to cleanse?
Does a colon cleanse work?
We know colon cleansing works. Anyone who’s ever had a colonoscopy must do a colon cleanse before the procedure. Methods used for this medical procedure include:
- Pulsed irrigation evacuation (PIE) – washing out of the colon with a solution, a lot like colonic irrigation.
- Polyethylene glycol (PEG) – a chemical used for its laxative effect.
- Sodium phosphate – another laxative chemical.
In fact, one study evaluated the effectiveness of these. It reported the pulsed irrigation and the sodium phosphate worked best for getting a colon ready for the screening.1
These practices, however, are very different from natural colon cleanses. But they do reveal one crucial detail. Your colon can be cleansed.
The answer we really need is whether a colon cleanse for health and wellness is a good idea.
Is a colon cleanse a good idea?
Your colon, aka your large intestine, plays a final – and key role – in the digestive process. It is in your colon that your body reabsorbs water and minerals (electrolytes), preparing the waste for evacuation. In this way, your colon naturally cleanses itself.
But if you’ve ever been constipated, you know sometimes waste can buildup. When you finally go, you release a lot of the buildup. But maybe not all of it.
And this is where we need to consider the following…prior to a colonoscopy, you undergo a cleanse, whether you are regular or not, to remove as much waste buildup that might remain.
Clearly, being “regular” is not enough. Without a cleanse, waste can remain in your bowels and prevent the camera used in a colonoscopy from seeing potentially dangerous polyps on the surface of your colon.
Likewise, you don’t want waste buildup in your colon interfering with the natural exchange of water and minerals.
And waste can have worse effects. It can alter the types of bacteria in your gut. Instead of robust, diverse, and healthy probiotic bacteria, waste can feed the growth of harmful, gram-negative bacteria. These gut bacteria release toxins that can get into your bloodstream and make you sick.
Keeping your colon clear of this waste is a good idea. You don’t need to do it often. You could aim for two to four times a year. If needed, you could do it monthly.
The health benefits of a colon cleanse include:
- Improved digestion
- Keeping you “regular”
- A stronger immune response
- Clearer thinking
- A more positive, overall better mood
- Greater energy, as your body isn’t spending it on neutralizing toxins or removing waste
- Weight loss
Before we look at how to do it, let’s dig a little deeper into why waste buildup may be a problem for us and why occasional cleansing makes sense.
The modern diet lacks fiber
We’ve mentioned this before, but it deserves repeating. We don’t get enough fiber in our diet.
Several years ago, researchers discovered that our paleolithic ancestors consumed around 135 grams of prebiotic fiber a day.2 That’s not total fiber, only the insoluble, indigestible, prebiotic fiber.
Compare that to today’s average daily fiber consumption of 15 grams or the recommended fiber intake of 25-35 grams.
Fiber naturally cleanses the colon. And although we may feel far removed from our prehistoric ancestors, our bodies have not changed much and still have the same needs. It’s no wonder conditions like Crohn’s disease and other digestive disorders are on the rise.
Our challenge lies in either dramatically changing our diets to include more fiber or compensating, such as with colon cleanses.
How much weight can you lose with a colon cleanse?
If colon cleanses help with weight loss, it makes sense to wonder how much weight you could lose. It’s important to understand that the real weight loss benefit comes from the improved metabolism that comes with a well-functioning system.
Sure, emptying your colon of excess waste will reduce some weight, but the amount is negligible to your weight loss goals. You can look at it this way. Every time you eat, you gain (add) weight. Every time you empty your colon (or even your bladder), you lose weight. The residual waste’s actual weight is likely very small compared to the amount of weight you may want to lose.
For weight loss and overall health goals, you want to lose the weight your metabolism burns. A healthy bowel supports an active metabolism. It protects against toxins that would interfere with your metabolism. You feel better, which helps you stay active and energized.
How do you properly flush out your bowels?
The proper way to flush out your bowel is safely. Ideally, you want to practice a method that supports your body’s natural processes.
Based on colonoscopy preparation, we can see that colonic irrigation and chemicals work. Natural health practitioners often recommend herbs and other traditional colon cleansers. Colonic hydrotherapy, using water to rinse out the colon, has become popular. Fasting and eating cleansing soups are other popular ways to do it. Of course, there’s always prunes.
The reality is, you need to find out what’s right for you. Once you choose your approach, you should follow the protocol and listen to your body. Often, you will start slow until you get accustomed to the process. If you find that it makes you feel ill or worse, you should stop.
As always, make sure to follow the medical advice of your trusted doctor.
What is the best colon cleanse?
The best colon cleanse is the one that works for you. It isn’t harsh. You don’t feel bad as you are doing it. When you are done, you feel better.
One of the safest and most popular colon cleanses features oxygenated magnesium.
- Oxygen reacts with the waste in your bowels, breaking it down and softening it for easier release.
- Magnesium draws water into the colon to further help soften and flush the waste.
A colon cleansing supplement like Cleanse Infused Plus features oxygenated magnesium. We’ve also included enzymes to further support the break down of waste. The enzymes, together with a special blend of herbs, also help to neutralize toxins.
One big benefit of supplements with oxygenated magnesium is how they support your body’s natural cleansing process. This makes them gentle on your system but still effective enough to do a complete job. Plus, they’re easy to take when you are on the go. You don’t need to make appointments or prepare special recipes.
We encourage you to take your colon health seriously. Cleansing helps to clear away waste that could damage your colon’s lining and have adverse effects on your overall health. You have a lot of options, but colon cleanse supplements may be the simplest. In our opinion, a premium quality but gentle formula as Cleanse Infused Plus that support your natural cleansing process is the best.
References:
- Ayub K, Ketwaroo G, Abudayyeh S, Ibrahim A, Cole RA, Brumfield-Brown R, Qureshi WA, Rabeneck L, Graham DY. Mechanical colon cleansing for screening colonoscopy: A randomized controlled trial. J Dig Dis. 2017 Dec;18(12):691-697. doi: 10.1111/1751-2980.12562. PMID: 29160622.
- Slavin J. Fiber and Prebiotics: Mechanisms and Health Benefits. Nutrients. 2013;5(4):1417-1435. doi:10.3390/nu5041417.