There are some people who blindly believe that if they regularly "cleanse" their colon they will have excellent digestive health.
Check this out! Studies proving and supporting the effectiveness of colon cleansing for digestive health are few and poor. Indeed, if you suffer from constipation, an enema may relieve your suffering, but whether colon cleansing is a strategy that can be used to eliminate toxins and parasites from the body is doubtful.
Having your colon cleansed sporadically, from time to time, at long intervals, mainly because it gives you psychological comfort, won't harm you, but don't imagine that it will lead to a metamorphosis.
Instead, you can regulate your digestion if you start drinking more water or eat foods that contain a lot of water, for example vegetables and fruit such as melon, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce or celery…
Or, for example, in the morning, drink a glass of room temperature water first, which will hydrate you and then a glass of warm water, which will help your digestion.
Against constipation is also effective saline solution, prepared from two teaspoons of sea salt dissolved in a glass of warm water, which is drunk in the morning on an empty stomach. Be careful if you are hypertensive or have been recommended a salt-free diet for any other reason, it is best to avoid this method.
The one and only correct and necessary method of colon cleansing is done on the advice of the doctor, strictly following the instructions on how, when and what to do in preparation for a colonoscopy.
But how to improve digestion and transit?
By eating fiber, which is found in vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and seeds. Smoothies made from fruits and vegetables, because they retain the pulp rather than the juice, are also good for digestion. At the same time, it is not necessary to go on a smoothie diet for several days. One smoothie a day is sufficient.
You can also do a good job with probiotics and find them in yogurt, pickles and other fermented foods. Apple cider vinegar would also be considered a probiotic. The enzymes and acids in it are supposed to suppress bad bacteria and cleanse the colon, but so far there aren't many studies to confirm this.
Finally, the herbs can also be used to cleanse the colon to "soften" constipation, most often in the form of laxative teas. But remember, even these teas should be used in moderation as they can work against you and do you more harm than good.
Now that you're more on topic, it's time to explain why colon cleansing products and procedures that claim to boost the immune system, improve health as a result of detoxification, and even weight loss, are actually unscientific claims, i.e. they are pure marketing and nothing more.
So be ready to debunk myth after myth!
Myth #1: Colon cleansing removes toxins from the blood.
There are two important organs in our body, whose task by their structure is to neutralize toxins: the liver and the kidneys. If these two organs are working properly, their mechanisms carry out detoxification and eliminate toxins with urine and feces. Toxins also exit through the skin by transpiration or through the lungs by exhalation. Thus, the human body is designed in such a way that detoxification occurs naturally and we do not need to do anything extra.
Myth #2. The cleaner the colon, the better the immune system.
Yes, a lot of bacteria that are responsible for our immunity are located in the intestines. However, uncontrolled cleaning of the intestines with the help of various "herbs", laxatives and enemas can lead to a violation of the intestinal microflora and, conversely, spoil everything. A person's immunity depends on his habits, lifestyle, diet and the level of stress experienced. Active recreation, sports, absence of bad habits and healthy food are the best means to strengthen immunity.
Myth #3: Colon cleansing removes fecal matter that builds up and sticks to the colon mucosa, turning it into toxic waste.
Nothing actually sticks to the walls of the colon! The cells that form the colonic mucosa are removed every 72 hours, so colon cleansing occurs without additional intervention.
Myth #4: Colon cleansing helps you reduce body mass effortlessly.
Colon cleansing techniques induce diarrhea and urination in larger amounts, so it's normal to drop pounds quickly, but it's the weight of feces and urine removed that means the so-called 'slimming' won't last. What you really lose are important electrolytes such as sodium and potassium with dehydration.
Myth #5. After cleansing the colon of toxins you think clearer and have more energy.
Feeling lighter and more energetic is just a placebo effect. If you have possibly given up your unhealthy habits for a few days, then you get some benefit from that and not from colon cleansing!
So, as you've probably noticed, there is no scientific evidence that colon cleansing procedures help the body eliminate harmful substances. On the contrary, there is scientific evidence that they can be harmful.
The damaging effects of poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, sleep deprivation, alcohol consumption… can't be eliminated by simply "cleansing" the body.
It is better to watch what you eat and rethink your lifestyle. There may be something to "cleanse".