What You Need to Know About Colon Cleansing

Colon cleansing is one of the ways to detoxify yourself. Colon cleansing has a lot of health benefits; from clearing up your complexion to losing weight. It is a wonderful way to tune up your body, give up your vices, break your bad eating habits and gives you the clarity to know just what your body needs, not its cravings.

The colon is the large intestine and it is one of the major waster removal organ. It is populated by about 100 trillion bacteria of different varieties that are beneficial. Lack of exercise and stress can lead to an unhealthy colon, requiring colon cleansing. In addition to pure water and sufficient nutrients, it needs good blood circulation, muscle tone and good nerves.

If perchance you happen to experience toe and finger fungus, abdominal cramps, body odour, bad breath, vaginal infections, kidney and bladder infections or constipation, then your colon may be crying out for a cleansing.

It is believed that some disease or illness begins in the colon. It is a prime location for cancer and a healthy and clean colon eliminates toxins effectively. An unhealthy colon that s clogged permits toxins to backup into the bloodstream and the kidney, defiling the entire system.

Water absorbed from food residues is squeezed out in the colon. This leaves behind cells that were scrapped of the intestinal tract, bile acids, bacteria and fibre. A healthy colon should eliminate wastes within 6 to 18 hours after the ingestion of a meal; if not, fungi and bacteria flourish and get reabsorbed.

The debris in your colon can be got rid of by eating the right kind of food. And what is the right kind of food? It is a plant based diet. It reduces the risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease and other high lifestyle diseases.

Plant based diets contain generous amounts of whole grains and nuts rich in fibre, seeds, beans, vegetables and fruits. The fibre contained in these foods holds moisture in the colon, making the stool soft. It maintains a healthy digestive tract, sweeping the residue from the colon.

There are soluble and insoluble fibre and we need both of them. Insoluble fibre is good for preventing constipation. Soluble fibre boosts beneficial bacteria which eliminates harmful bacteria by producing natural antibiotics.

Oats and flax seed have the highest content of insoluble and soluble fibre. Foods rich in insoluble fibre include apple, cauliflower, turnips, Brussels sprouts, carrots, beets, cabbage, brown rice, rye, whole wheat and rice. Soluble fibre is found in apples, strawberry, citrus fruits, barley, rice, peas and beans.

The recommended intake of fibre is 20 to 35 gms. per day, but we get only about 10 gms. from the rich food that we normally consume. This deficit can be made good by consuming 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables and 6 or more of whole grains. A serving is made up of a cup of fruits or vegetables.

Other than fibre, green foods are good colon cleansing agents. Foods such as blue-green algae, spirulina, barley grass, wheat grass are the foods that in addition to colon cleansing contain chlorophyll that heals and soothes damaged tissue in the intestinal tracts. In fact, chlorophyll is known as an "internal deodorant".

Refined carbohydrates that are low in fibre reduce friendly bacteria and upset the body's intestinal ecosystem. Fermented foods that include kefir and yogurt replenish these friendly bacteria which degrade toxins, eliminate non-beneficial bacteria, degrade toxins, synthesize vitamins and stimulate the immune system. They also help in the production of short chain fatty acids that supply energy to the cells lining the colon.

Water is something that most people need in plenty. It is the universal solvent, and insufficiency of it causes toxicity in the kidneys and bowel and constipation. Consumption of salt and meat, dry or hot climate, fever and physical activity increases its need. The optimal amount of water that a person should consume ranges from 6 to 10 glasses a day. Not only ordinary water, but pure water, diluted fruit juices or herbal tea are good supplements. Drink water preferably some 20 min. before meals or between meals. When thirsty drink water.

Whatever the reason you go in for colon cleansing, once you are done with it you feel as if you have just come back from a wonderful vacation: happy, refreshed and ready to face the world.