Are over the counter colon cleansers really necessary?

Do we need to cleanse our colon? And if so what about over the counter colon cleansers? Do they work? Are they safe? Or are they just a huge waste of money?

Over the counter colon cleansers do have their place, but not everyone will need to do colon cleansing. Think about it. There have been generations of people who have lived on this earth for eighty to ninety years or more who have never done a colon cleanse. The colon is actually a superb piece of equipment. It works very well to clear waste matter from the body.

Having said that, colon cleansing can be useful for some health problems and some over the counter colon cleansers work very well, but you need to choose wisely. The questions to consider are:

Which cleanses are effective? And perhaps even more importantly, which ones are safe?

This article is not trying to recommend one brand over the other. There’s enough confusion out there already without me adding to it. However I would recommend doing plenty of research, or perhaps asking your health provider before buying any over the counter colon cleansers. Look for a product with some scientific backup, there are plenty of fads out there.

So what conditions may benefit from colon cleansing? And is there another option or remedy that can heal these conditions without resorting to cleaning out your colon? It rather depends on your complaint and of course your general health.

If you are having problems with constipation, acne, lack of energy or indigestion. It could be a simple matter of improving your diet. A poor diet is responsible for a host of health problems, some health specialists claim all health problems are diet based. The reason for this is that there is so much processed junky foods available today. Most of them not only contain little nutrition, but contain harmful ingredients such as preservatives, trans fats and sugar.

So cutting these types of foods out of your diet should help you feel better and look better. If you eat plenty of fresh vegetables, your shouldn’t suffer with constipation and over the counter colon cleansers probably won’t even be necessary. Your skin will be clearer and you’ll have plenty of energy. If you add exercise to your day, the benefits should be even greater.

A lot of health problems like the above may be caused simply by not drinking enough. Five cups of coffee a day just won’t cut it! Drink more water. This is the healthiest drink in the world and you don’t have to buy it in bottles. Just turn on the tap. If your water quality isn’t great, there are filters that can clean it.

If indigestion is a problem and your diet is already healthy, or if gas and bloating are causing discomfort, then pro-biotics may be the answer for you. Pro-biotics are healthy bacteria that already live inside the gut, but may be depleted for various reasons including taking anti-biotics for a health problem, Yogurt contains some probiotics which may be sufficient for maintenance, but to start with it’s best to take a probiotic supplement.

However if all the above does not improve your health, then feel free to try one of the better over the counter colon cleansers. It may just get rid of a lot of waste matter that remains in your intestines from years of unhealthy eating. Once you have given yourself this start, you may never have to do a colon cleanse again!

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Intestinal Cleansing – Only A Part Of The Detox Process

People are often confused by the difference between intestinal cleansing and detoxing. Although they are similar, they are not quite the same thing. Intestinal cleansing simply means cleaning out the intestines where a lot of toxic waste material may be stored. Detoxing on the other hand is the process of eliminating toxins by means of other organs as well, for instance the kidneys, liver, lungs and even the skin.

Of course intestinal cleansing is a major part of this process. In a perfect world the body can take care of efficiently eliminating all waste through the colon (large intestine). Nowadays, however, our modern diets full of processed foods and insufficient fiber mean that the intestines are struggling to cope and that leaves us wide open to a host of diseases and complaints. Toxins that can’t be eliminated are stored in the body’s fat tissues.

We need to do some form of intestinal cleansing, but does that mean we have to rush out and buy a colon cleansing product? Although this will work in the short term, we will soon start having the same problems unless we improve our diets and lifestyle.

The diet is the most important factor in cleansing the body through the digestive system. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and beans. These are considered among the most effective foods for intestinal cleansing. Eat a minimum of 3 or 4 servings of fruits per day as fruit not only provides essential vitamins and minerals, but also help the body digest food more quickly. Make sure you eat fruit before other foods as it will not digest well if eaten after a meal.

Water is another important and most reliable ways of cleansing the intestines. Drinking enough water can help to prevent constipation and also helps to maintain kidney health.

In addition to a higher-fiber diet, supplements known for their cleansing properties can also help. Psyllium husks, citrus pectin, whey protein, papaya, bentonite clay and activated charcoal are some of these. Taking probiotics or eating food, which contains healthy bacteria such as kefir, miso, and yogurt will help boost our health and also our immune system.

Intestinal cleansing may also be carried out by taking laxatives, but these can be harsh on our intestinal tract, even the natural ones like senna. They can also be habit forming, meaning we can become dependent on them for elimination.

The small intestine needs to be in good condition to be able to absorb the nutrients from our food. It may become stressed from a bad diet, eating too much and a lack of digestive enzymes. Mucus accumulation in the small intestine can be a problem and intestinal cleansing of the small intestine needs to concentrate on eliminating this mucus.

Finally, don’t forget to exercise. Exercise not only gets the digestive system working properly, but is a natural mood lifter. Intestinal cleansing can leave us feeling irritable and flat, especially if we are restricting our diet. It doesn’t have to be too intense, simple walking will do the trick!

In conclusion intestinal cleansing can sometimes be done without buying a colon cleanse product.

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