Do Colons Need an Occasional Colon Cleanse?

The colon, which makes up the last 4 to 6 feet of your 30-foot digestive tract, is the waste management organ of the body. It is responsible for absorbing all the vital water and minerals your body needs to live, while simultaneously helping to eliminate toxins and debris that can infect and harm your body. Your overall health depends on how well you take care of yourself and your colon.

There are many signs that could indicate poor colon health and the need for a colon cleanse, including:

• Headaches
• Irritability
• Gas and bloating
• Bad breath
• Hemorrhoids
• Aching in the lower back
• Chronic fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Constipation

Regardless of how diligent you are about colon health, there are times when excess particles and debris can clog it, leading to bouts of constipation. It is believed that undigested foods, like meat, can cause mucus to build up in the colon, which in turn produces harmful toxins that can lead to fatigue, headaches, low energy levels, and weight gain. When this occurs, one way that you may be able to alleviate the pain and discomfort of constipation and toxin buildup is by undergoing a colon cleanse. This practice has been performed for centuries, and it is believed that Egyptians started it around 1500 B.C.

A Good Colon Cleanse May Help Keep Your Colon Healthy and Clean

There are various ways you can cleanse your colon in order to keep it functioning properly. The purpose of a colon cleanse is to dispel any contaminants from the colon so the organ can absorb the necessary nutrients to function properly and prevent constipation.

One type of colon cleansing is colon irrigation. This cleansing method involves clearing the colon of harmful pollutants, which assists in restoring the body's pH balance, improving digestion, and strengthening the immune system. It usually takes about an hour to perform the irrigation procedure, which consists of inserting a hose into the rectum and injecting a stream of water (sometimes combined with other substances, like herbs or probiotics) at various temperatures and with different amounts of pressure. Once the water is in your colon, the person performing the irrigation massages the abdomen before flushing the water out through a different tube. The water is believed to eliminate toxins in the body.

Because the colon cleanse is somewhat invasive, patients may experience abdominal pain during the procedure. If you're looking for a natural colon cleanse, a diet consisting of green foods, fermented foods, and fiber is often recommended. The roughage is necessary to clean out the colon without resorting to extensive procedures.

If neither of these sounds appealing, then you may consider a homeopathic medicinal created to provide the benefits of natural colon cleansing without resorting to invasive, painful procedures. An all-natural herbal colon cleanse may reduce bloating while also helping the body to repair tiny tears along the intestinal walls. Other possible benefits of this homeopathic approach include an improved immune system and a more positive mental outlook.

It may be a good idea to pair a natural colon cleanse with adjustments in your diet. For instance, many people try to eat foods that are high in fiber, such as vegetables, whole grains, oatmeal, bran, and fruit. A typical adult should consume about 20-35 grams of fiber each day. Some people also consider it helpful to reduce intake of foods that can negatively affect colon health, such as refined foods, sugars, white flour, coffee, tea, cheese, and milk. It's also important to drink plenty of water, as this will help the body to digest insoluble fibers and flush out toxins.