Colon
cleansing is claimed to improve health and digestion by flushing toxins
and fecal matter out of the intestines. However, there is a lack of good quality evidence that supports the benefits of this practice — and certain cleansing methods may be harmful.
While
a clean colon is necessary before a colonoscopy, in general the safest
and most natural home remedy to promote colon health is to eat a diet
rich in fruits, vegetables and other high-fiber foods, and to drink
plenty of fluids.
Colon
cleansing dates back to ancient times, popularized during an era when
intestinal waste was believed to cause most health problems. Today colon
cleansing is a trendy alternative remedy that claims to improve health
by removing intestinal waste and toxins, using regimens that range from
high-fiber diets or juicing to methods that clean out the bowels with
herbs, laxatives or enemas.
Colon irrigation,
or colon hydrotherapy, is an aggressive colon cleansing practice that
introduces large amounts of fluid into the rectum and flushes out
intestinal waste. Often performed in clinics, colon irrigation can also
be done at home.
However, such aggressive colon cleansing practices have unclear benefits and can lead to a range of side effects that include diarrhea, dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, ruptured bowel, acute kidney damage and infection.
Cleanse Only When Prescribed
Cleaning out the colon before a colonoscopy
is essential, however, and your doctor can guide you on how to safely
do this at home. The purpose here is not to detox, or remove toxins, but
to ensure the colon lining can be clearly visualized during the exam so
your colon can be inspected for cancer or other abnormalities.
Prior
to having a colonoscopy, your medical team will provide instructions on
how to prepare. These directions involve consuming a clear liquid diet
the day prior, and also drinking the prescribed amounts of laxatives to
induce enough diarrhea to clean out the bowels.
Support Your Body's Natural Detox
If you think you need to detox or clean out your colon, don't lose sight of the fact that your body
already has a system in place that removes toxins through urine, stool,
sweat and via exhaled air. This natural detox system may need extra
help, however, if your toxin load exceeds what your body can remove.
Fortunately,
there are ways to naturally support your body's detox system. For
example, drinking plenty of water helps flush these toxins out of your
system. In addition, your body's detox processes work better
if you're eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
legumes, nuts and seeds. Reducing toxin exposure is also important, and
one way to accomplish this is to minimize exposure to polluted air and
tobacco smoke.
Eat Fiber and Drink Fluids
A diet rich in high-fiber foods and fluids
promotes soft, bulky stools and regular bowel movements, and is
arguably the best home remedy for enhancing the removal of waste from
the colon. Fiber-filled foods such as fruit and vegetables are also rich
in antioxidants and other plant chemicals which support the body's natural detoxification processes.
Aim
to eat at least 2.5 cups of whole fruits and vegetables each day, and
choose whole grains, such as oatmeal, brown rice and whole grain bread,
instead of low-fiber breads, grains and cereals. Include dried beans and
peas most days and include a small amount of nuts and seeds daily.
Specific foods
that can enhance the body's detox system include fermented foods, such
as kefir, yogurt, kimchi and sauerkraut, and cruciferous vegetables
including broccoli, kale and cauliflower. Drink according to your thirst
and to keep your urine pale in color, which for most people means at
least 8 cups of water or other fluids daily.
Warnings
While
it's beneficial to keep bowel movements regular and avoid constipation,
there's no research to suggest colon cleansing is necessary for health.
Of specific concern is how aggressive colon cleansing practices may
disrupt the gut microbiome, including the health-promoting bacteria that
line the colon.
In
addition, colon cleansing can lead to diarrhea and dehydration — and in
some cases, bowel perforation, infection and other serious health
issues. If have questions about colon cleansing practices outside of
moderately increasing fiber intake, speak with your doctor before trying
these at home.
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