Have you ever wondered the 'ins' and 'outs' of cleansing your colon or taking part in a detox? Read on for a brief overview as to the why's and how's.
Cleansing has become very popular lately. Popular and controversial. There has not been a lot of research or study on colon cleansing so there is no empirical data or ironclad answer. Some health professionals advise on steering clear because it is unnecessary and dangerous and others prescribe it as a way to unclog your pipes and flush away the toxins.
WHY?
If you eat a lot and only eliminate once a day or worse less then you are not getting rid of all that is going in! If we are clogged up (even with a healthy diet) then we get sick. Our colon gets crusted over from eating meat, dairy, breads, processed foods, cakes, candy and bad fat. Think about what you may be carrying around with you and what is building on it - not great!
Cleansing has become very popular lately. Popular and controversial. There has not been a lot of research or study on colon cleansing so there is no empirical data or ironclad answer. Some health professionals advise on steering clear because it is unnecessary and dangerous and others prescribe it as a way to unclog your pipes and flush away the toxins.
WHY?
If you eat a lot and only eliminate once a day or worse less then you are not getting rid of all that is going in! If we are clogged up (even with a healthy diet) then we get sick. Our colon gets crusted over from eating meat, dairy, breads, processed foods, cakes, candy and bad fat. Think about what you may be carrying around with you and what is building on it - not great!
The intestine draws in needed nutrients for the body and if your intestines are not able to get the nutrients, your food is wasted. If food doesn’t move easily through the intestines, then it starts to build up and we become constipated, cramped, gain weight, become depressed and our immune system begins to weaken leading to illness.
If you have ever struggled with depression it is unlikely that you may have been prescribed with colonic treatment as a cure. However the gut (known as the second brain) has serotonin receptors - if we leave a build up in our digestive system this can lead to physical and mental illness. Additionally, the stomach produces mucus to guard against acids. If we continually eat processed unhealthy foods the stomach overproduces this mucus and this attributes to being ultimately 'clogged up.'
Along with eliminating daily waste, our body has the job to defend itself against toxins. The normal detoxification process is pretty amazing -
It is the hormones, artificial flavouring and colouring that are added to processed foods that causes the liver to turn the toxins into bigger, more dangerous toxins. Eating a diet fresh and whole, along with avoiding the type of toxins we breathe in will help to eliminate #3 from happening. By taking in all these toxins, we create a problem that our body was not designed to deal with.
So, by now I think it's easy to see why our bodies need a helping hand now and again.
If you have ever struggled with depression it is unlikely that you may have been prescribed with colonic treatment as a cure. However the gut (known as the second brain) has serotonin receptors - if we leave a build up in our digestive system this can lead to physical and mental illness. Additionally, the stomach produces mucus to guard against acids. If we continually eat processed unhealthy foods the stomach overproduces this mucus and this attributes to being ultimately 'clogged up.'
Along with eliminating daily waste, our body has the job to defend itself against toxins. The normal detoxification process is pretty amazing -
- Toxins enter the blood.
- Antioxidants grab them and neutralise them and move them to the liver.
- The liver takes the toxins and gives the antioxidants back to circulate.
- The liver neutralises and either eliminates the toxins either through faeces, sweat or urine or it turns the toxin into a more toxic compound.
It is the hormones, artificial flavouring and colouring that are added to processed foods that causes the liver to turn the toxins into bigger, more dangerous toxins. Eating a diet fresh and whole, along with avoiding the type of toxins we breathe in will help to eliminate #3 from happening. By taking in all these toxins, we create a problem that our body was not designed to deal with.
So, by now I think it's easy to see why our bodies need a helping hand now and again.
HOW?
There are different ways to detox and cleanse your body. Some are very natural, non controversial and extremely healthy. Some may seem extreme and others are simple. How you choose to cleanse is important.
Different cleansing aids:
There are different ways to detox and cleanse your body. Some are very natural, non controversial and extremely healthy. Some may seem extreme and others are simple. How you choose to cleanse is important.
Different cleansing aids:
- Eat clean
- Wheatgrass
- Green Juices & Green Vegetables
- Apples
- Garlic
- Lemons, Limes and Oranges
- Omega 3 Oils
- Green Tea
- Mung Beans
- Take enzymes
- Food combining
- Probiotics
- Enemas
- Colon irrigation (professional)
- Magnesium
- Kits with powders and potions
On Enemas and Colon Cleansing
This is the controversial part. The Mayo Clinic says “don’t do it”. However, colon cleansing is being prescribed more and more as a holistic approach to wellness. If you are planning to do an enema or colon cleanse, go to a good and well-trained colon hydro therapist.
There is no debate that a lot of symptoms that are caused by being constipated can be relieved with colon therapy. Colon cleansing with colon irrigation works like an enema. There is no discomfort if you have a good hydro therapist. You lay down on a table and a low-pressure pump or a gravity-based reservoir flushes several gallons of water through a small tube inserted into your rectum. The therapist sits with you the entire time. After a while, the therapist might massage your belly to loosen things up a little. This process comfortably flushes the fluid and waste through. It usually takes about an hour. Most colon hydro therapists suggest regular visits. Maybe once a month for a while and then progressing to once every other month. You should always drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration after as well as taking probiotics to restore good bacteria and wheatgrass. Many health professionals advise that your digestive system and bowel naturally eliminate waste material and bacteria and your body does not require colon cleansing to do this.
Personally I recommend following a clean, light, whole foods detox programme along with lots of hydration as an effective and gentle detox on the body. I am currently writing an 11 day Spring/Summer detox that will be launched in March. This programme is not only designed to detox the body naturally, but also identify sensitivities and intolerances you may have to specific foods, that have made you end up not feeling 100% in the first place. I know when I identified what types of foods worked best for me and what didn't, it had a hugely positive affect on my digestive health.
Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to access my 11 day 'Eat to Nourish' detox and benefit from my early-bird offers!
This is the controversial part. The Mayo Clinic says “don’t do it”. However, colon cleansing is being prescribed more and more as a holistic approach to wellness. If you are planning to do an enema or colon cleanse, go to a good and well-trained colon hydro therapist.
There is no debate that a lot of symptoms that are caused by being constipated can be relieved with colon therapy. Colon cleansing with colon irrigation works like an enema. There is no discomfort if you have a good hydro therapist. You lay down on a table and a low-pressure pump or a gravity-based reservoir flushes several gallons of water through a small tube inserted into your rectum. The therapist sits with you the entire time. After a while, the therapist might massage your belly to loosen things up a little. This process comfortably flushes the fluid and waste through. It usually takes about an hour. Most colon hydro therapists suggest regular visits. Maybe once a month for a while and then progressing to once every other month. You should always drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration after as well as taking probiotics to restore good bacteria and wheatgrass. Many health professionals advise that your digestive system and bowel naturally eliminate waste material and bacteria and your body does not require colon cleansing to do this.
Personally I recommend following a clean, light, whole foods detox programme along with lots of hydration as an effective and gentle detox on the body. I am currently writing an 11 day Spring/Summer detox that will be launched in March. This programme is not only designed to detox the body naturally, but also identify sensitivities and intolerances you may have to specific foods, that have made you end up not feeling 100% in the first place. I know when I identified what types of foods worked best for me and what didn't, it had a hugely positive affect on my digestive health.
Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to access my 11 day 'Eat to Nourish' detox and benefit from my early-bird offers!