Healthy Status Always » Colon Cleansing

Colon Cleansers

hosnee — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:05:36 +0000

At this point in time everyone with even the least bit of understanding knows that John Wayne did not have 40 pounds of fecal matter in his colon at the time of his death and that he did not die as a result of this non-existent buildup of feces. Yet the foregoing notwithstanding, the quacks are still out in full force busily citing this Internet hoax that has been making the rounds ever since the Duke waved his last goodbye. For those who are still not convinced, consider the fact that Mr. Wayne was never autopsied, thus it would have been impossible to ascertain just how much fecal matter buildup he had in his colon – if any.

In spite of knowing better, Internet quacks are busy using Mr. Wayne and scare tactics to convince consumes that they will need to undergo lengthy colon cleansing procedures and regimens. Some last as long as two months, and then need to be repeated every two months! If you consider the cost of the supplements needed – which are conveniently available for sale from the websites that post all the hype – you will be able to quickly understand just why the manufacturers and pushers are so interested in having you come back for more.

At this point the quacks are adding insult to injury by not only marketing allegedly natural colon cleanses but also by busily advertising colonic irrigation. A bit akin to power washing your colon, the idea is that a certified colon hydro-therapist will insert a speculum and two hoses into your anus and then gently flush out the cavity while using the speculum to scrape the colon. One hose will bring the water into your colon while the other one is supposed to suction out the fecal matter.

Sometimes referred to as a high colonic, this power washing is notably different from your garden variety enema because of the fact that is forces an astonishing amount of water into the intestines and does so under the power of a machine that propels it. 20 to 30 gallons are used to flush, liquefy and flush some more during the course of the session.

Sadly, colonic irrigation is a serious procedure that could result in the death of the patient. For this reason alone such devices are not supposed to be marketed to individuals but only to properly trained therapists who know how to operate them. Of course, on the Internet everything is for sale and thus it is not surprising to find the machinery needed for colonic irrigation to be ready for shipment in a smidgen! The reality showcases the unsuccessful colonic irrigation will result in illness or even death because of the potential of puncturing the intestines, thus permitting bacteria to invade the abdominal cavity and also the blood. In addition to the foregoing, electrolytes are quickly and easily flushed out of the system, thus leaving the nervous system and by extension the brain without the needed chemicals to keep functioning as indicated. Granted, colon cleanses are a worthwhile regimen when done under the supervision of a doctor. Similarly, they will help you to shed a buildup of fecal matter that may contain toxins and bacteria which leech more toxins into your body. Yet they only work when done properly and non-invasively!

The Four Steps To A Healthy Diet Include Colon Cleansing

hosnee — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:44:36 +0000

Dieting has become a way of life and not surprisingly, considering the increase in obesity, it has become a multimillion dollar industry that grows every single day. Any product that is so consistently put at the forefront of the consumer’s mind is bound to attract some ne’er do wells that for a quick buck are willing to sell any kind of snake oil, no matter what the consequences for the consumer might be. To this end, here is a four step approach to a healthy diet:

1. Beware the fad diets. They come in all sizes, shapes, lengths, and colors and include a number of limitations, some of which are amazingly odd. Some will tell you to not eat any carbohydrates but instead stick with protein, while others will warn you away from any kind of animal protein in favor of carbohydrates derived from plants. There are fad diets that forbid you to eat solid foods while others proclaim the necessity of staying away from raw veggies. The truth is quite simple: the first step in any healthy diet is the choice of healthy foods. Hamburgers, fries and milkshakes are unhealthy, whole grain bread, raw carrots for snacks, and lean meat are healthy. For a complete list of healthy food, visit your doctor!

2. Exercise is a fact of life. You cannot expect to eat a 1,000 calorie lunch and then lose weight if for the rest of the day you are just sitting in front of the television. If you have not exercised in a while, start slow by just walking down the block and back. There is no reason to go from nothing to hour long power lifting sessions in the gym. Take it slow and gradually work your way up to an exercise regimen you enjoy.

3. Let go of unreasonable expectations. No, you cannot lose 10 pounds while you sleep and no, you cannot continue on your fast food diet and expect to shed the pounds. Health food stores have entire aisles devoted to dietary aids, powders, and caplets that are supposed to somehow melt off the pounds, yet in all honesty do little more than put you at risk for allergic reactions and heart attacks; the only thing you stand to lose is your hard-earned money. Instead, set a reasonable goal to lose the weight slowly and gradually and thereby you will increase your chances of keeping it off.

4. Use natural supplementation for your health. Take care of your body by annually, or as often as indicated by your health care provider, detoxifying your system. If you are able to complete change your diet to one that is rich in organic, natural, whole grains, fruits and veggies, and stay away from the refined sugar, fat, salt and empty calories so prevalent in the processed foods of today, you can probably do the detox of your body even less frequent. The four steps to a healthy diet include colon cleansing, which will help your body to rid itself of accumulated fecal matter that may have obstructed some of your gut, leading to abdominal pain, constipation, and an inadequate ability of the gastrointestinal tract to absorb vitamins.

Colon Function And Why You Need To Cleanse Your Colon

hosnee — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:44:36 +0000

Your colon has a job to do. It is suppose to rid your body of waste material, bacteria and it is to absorb water and mineral salts. It also has the job of maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance within the body. When your colon cannot perform its job well because it is clogged with impacted fecal matter toxins form that can cause disease within your body.

Health problems that result from an unhealthy colon are: abdominal pain, constipation, lack of energy, acne and other skin irritations and even colon cancer. These health issues are caused by an unhealthy bowel, which is partly caused by unhealthy eating and drinking habits. One bad habit is overeating or under-eating. We also consume toxic substances when we take in processed foods, microwave-cooked food, white flour, caffeine, sugar, aspartame, hydrogenated fats or deep fried foods.

Your colon can cleanse itself naturally when you start to eat healthy foods. Fiber is the first thing that must be adjusted in your diet. Your body needs adequate amounts of fiber every day. The average person needs 25 – 30 grams of fiber daily. You can take fiber supplements dissolved in water, in capsule form or in the foods you eat.

Adequate amounts of water are absolutely essential for a healthy colon. Everyone should drink half of their weight in pure non-carbonated water. An example of how much water to drink each day would be if you weighted 150 pounds, then you should drink 75 ounces of water each day. 75 ounces of water is approximately 2 liters of water that should be consumed each day.

Herbal colon cleanses are a natural and easy way to get a healthy colon. There is herbal colon cleansing recipes that you can locate online or you can find them in most local health stores. If you purchase a herbal colon cleanse, be sure to follow the instructions carefully. You can also purchase colon-cleansing teas, which are sold in packets. Be sure to use these colon-cleansing teas in moderation as you do not want to have too frequent bowel movements or you could become dehydrated.

Fiber is important anytime, but especially when you are doing a colon cleanse. You can get adequate amounts by eating cereal that contains fiber for breakfast or whole grain bread. Fruits and vegetables also contain fiber. Make sure you drink lots of water while you are eating your raw fruits and vegetables.

To keep your colon healthy and functioning properly take good care of it by eating raw fruits and vegetables, fiber cereals or whole grain breads. You can also keep your colon healthy by cleansing it naturally with herbs and herbal teas.

Colon Cleansing Cautions

hosnee — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:20:36 +0000

Doctors will at times prescribe a colon cleansing to be done just before a procedure like a colonoscopy. There are many persons who will routinely do colon cleansing to rid their body of toxins. When doing colon cleansings it is important to understand your body’s natural ability to care for the colon so as not to disturb the delicate balance that happens with the electrolyte balance and the natural balance of bodily fluids. If colon cleansing is done on a long-term basis or if you do excessive cleansing you can cause problems such as anemia, malnutrition or even heart failure. It is important to understand when a colon cleanse is necessary and when it is best to let your body do its own cleansing.

Constipation:

Many individuals feel the need to do a colon cleanse when they are constipated. Constipation is your body’s way of signaling the need for more fiber in the diet and the need for more water. By giving your body what it needs, more water and fiber, the constipation will correct itself. If you are younger than 50 you should be getting 25 grams of fiber a day if you are a woman and 38 grams of fiber a day if you are a man. If you are older than 50 you should be consuming 30 grams of fiber a day if a man and 21 grams of fiber a day if you are a woman.

There are practices that some report to be beneficial to your colon that may have harmful consequences if used incorrectly or excessively. Such practices are laxative usage, colonic irrigation and herbal cleanses.

Laxatives such as cascara or castor oil can cause damage to nerve cellin in the colon wall. If nerve cells are damaged the colon decreases the force of contractions, which will increase the occurance of constipation.

Colonic irrigation can be expensive as much as $75 for each session with up to 6 sessions being recommended. Colonic irrigation needs to be sterilized between treatments otherwise diseases can be spread from one patient to another. Heart failure can occur is excessive fluid is absorbed into the bloodsteam causing an electrolyte imbalance. There has been no licensing or training to operate a colonic-irrigation device. in 1985, a California judge ruled that colonic irrigation was an invasive procedure and said that it may not be performed because it did no good and could only bring harm. This according to the National Council Against Health Fraud, 1995.

The Colon Function And Why We Should Keep It Clean

hosnee — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:53:36 +0000

The colon is a muscular organ in your body, located at the end of your small intestine and ending at your anus. This very important organ has three main functions:

1. To concentrate fecal material by absorbing fluid and electrolytes

2. To store and control the flow of fecal material

3. To absorb and aid in the digestion of nutrients extracted from food

The colon works in a very systemic way by organizing how it functions – the right side of the colon absorbs water and electrolytes and the left side stores and evacuates the stool.

The American Council on Science and Health explains the function of the colon quite nicely:

“The body empties its waste once it has absorbed the required food and calories it needs for energy through the small intestine.”

The function of the colon is very important in not only evacuating the waste products that are left over from the food we eat but it also aids in absorbing the nutrients from the food which are transported to the bloodstream.

Individuals can tamper with the natural rhythm of how their colon functions by using laxatives on a daily basis. This daily use of laxatives causes the body to lose much needed nutrients and fluids, which then make it, fall out of the natural rhythm of evacuating the waste products. Overuse of “internal cleansing products”, can lead to bloating, cramping, dehydration, and disturbances in the natural balance of electrolytes. It is important to ask for the advice of your healthcare professional before using laxatives, enemas or cleansing products.

The best way to keep your colon clean is to watch what you put into it. Just like there are foods to keep your heart healthy, there are foods to keep your colon clean and healthy. There are colon-friendly foods that can keep the colon healthy.

The best choices for protein to keep your colon healthy are those that are non-red, and non-processed meat sources or other non-meat sources of protein. Good choices for protein that fit these choices are:

Poultry
Fish
Eggs
Soy Products
Beans
Whole Grains
Limit Red Meat

Vegetables and Fruits are your Colon’s friends because they are loaded with anti-cancer, immune-ststem-strengthening properties.

Fiber as many people know is excellent for many reasons, but really good for your colon health. There are many ways to find fiber in foods:

Plant foods

Whole-grain Breads, Cereals, Pasta and Rice

Add Beans, Peas and Lentils to Salads

Increase Your Water Intake As You Increase Your fiber Intake

Calcium reduces your risk for colorectal cancer, so make sure you are getting enough calcium in your diet.

Calcium can be found in many food sources:

Low-fat Dairy Products

dark Green Vegetables

Soy and Tofu Products

Canned Salmon and Sardines

Fortified Orange Juice

Almonds

Ask Your Doctor About Using A Calcium Supplement

Vitamin D plays a vital role in calcium absorption by the body and helps to keep the colon healthy.

Vitamin D can be found in:

Salmon
Mackerel
Sardines
Fortified Milk
Eggs

Vitamin D Supplement can be used with a doctor’s advice.

Healthy individuals need at least 1 to 2 liters of plain water each day to keep their body functioning properly, including the colon.

Exercise is another way of keeping your colon healthy. Just 30 minutes each day of moderate to vigorous exercise will keep your body, including your colon fit. Your doctor can guide you on which exercise program is right for you.

The Abuse Of Liquid Diets In The Wake Of A Colon Cleanse

hosnee — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:51:36 +0000

Patients who have had to spend time in the hospital because of a surgical procedure know that quite often a liquid diet is indicated for the first couple of days after the procedure. The goal is to provide nutrition to the body without taxing the system. Similarly, the idea to let the anesthetics work their way out of the body before allowing food to enter in is not new either, especially since some patients have presented with an almost violent allergic reaction to such drugs. Yet liquid diets are not only indicated in a hospital after surgery but for short periods of time also during colon cleanses.

A colon cleanse is a procedure you may do at home over the span of three to five days and involves the supplementation of fiber and mild laxatives in an effort to flush out the gastrointestinal tract and help the body to void any fecal matter that might have become compacted inside the colon. The buildup of this fecal matter is most frequently associated with the lengthy consumption of a diet poor in fiber and adequate water intake and instead rich in salty, fatty food items that tax the system rather than build it up.

Generally speaking, many manufacturers of natural colon cleansers advocate the use of a temporary liquid diet in order to help the body flush out the fecal matter that has built up without adding more to the process. Similarly, a liquid diet will guarantee that the consumer will ingest sufficient liquids to ensure that the fibers and laxatives are truly working in the intestines and not actually adding to the blockage because of inadequate water to liquefy them.

Sadly, the weight loss associated with such a beneficial colon cleanse has led to the abuse of the liquid diet concept in the wake of this cleanse and instead of shifting the food intake to healthy food choices, such as whole grain breads, lean organic meats, organic fruits and raw, organic vegetables, some dieters on the outlook for the next fad have taken to creating a new liquid diet around the colon cleanse idea. The tenets – unhealthy though they may be – are surprisingly simple:

* Start out with liquids you can see through. These include jell-o, water, thin broths, tea, and the like.

* After three or five days, graduate to a full liquid diet. It is no longer important if the substance may be seen through and instead anything and everything that can pass through a strainer is permitted. Thus, with a sufficiently powerful food processor or blender, and a spaghetti strainer, you can eat anything you want – in liquid form. Thus, your spaghetti and sauce go in the strainer until they form a liquid. Water it down a bit if it does not make it through the strainer the first time around.

* Continue on this regimen for about one month. Since the food is much easier to digest in semi liquid form, the notion dictates that you will lose weight since it will require less to feel full and yet it leaves your body more quickly and therefore will not add as much fat to your daily intake.

Can Pets Benefit From Colon Cleansings

hosnee — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:54:36 +0000

If you are a pet lover, you are bound to have fed your dog or cat a little treat here and there that might have adversely affected the animal’s regularity. Yet since pets usually are kept on a healthy diet simply by virtue of eating food specifically formulated for them, thoughts of kitty constipation and doggie diarrhea are rare, and such incidences usually point to another more serious health problem. While dogs seem to have little problems with constipation – possibly in part because they are like eating machines who will keep on eating until a bowel movement is produced – cats are more finicky. As a matter of fact, cats are highly susceptible to intestinal problems, but will only display symptoms once the problems have progressed to such an extent that veterinary intervention is necessary.

You will notice that your cat is not his own happy self when he chooses your Persian rug to defecate. Assuming that your pet thus far was a model of litter box conscientiousness and also that there is no other animal misbehaving on said rug, the mere fact that the animal will produce a bowel movement on the rug instead in its proper place is a warning sign to the pet owner. You may also notice him dragging his anus against the rug, trying to lift one leg a bit and basically do whatever he thinks might work to evacuate his bowels, yet with dismal results. The animal is finally letting you in on the secret that his health is not all it is supposed to be, and this should be taken serious. The wise pet owner will bag the feces and make a visit to the vet as soon as possible.

Most likely the veterinarian will elect to do a fecal float so as to rule out parasites and also run some blood tests to make sure that constipation is not related to diabetes. Additionally, a manual palpitation of the abdomen is done to ensure that no physical obstructions exist. If all these tests come back negative, the veterinarian will most likely perform a kitty colon cleansing which is done by an enema. If the fecal matter is extremely compacted, the vet may choose an anesthetic and utilize a small scraper to help evacuate some feces in the hopes that the rest will push through from behind.

Once the feline’s colon has been cleansed, your veterinarian will most likely suggest that you consider a special diet for your pet. If he is overweight, then your vet will be more urgent about this suggestion, and it is a good idea to take him up on it. A change in diet will most likely revolve around prescription diets that have measurably higher fiber content than other commercially available pet food. While the cost of this food is higher than what you would pay out at the grocery store, the amount of money you save in vet bills for the bi-monthly kitty enema is well worth the extra expense. Furthermore, you vet may also decide that your cat needs supplementation of a light laxative and several such substances may be purchased at the local big box pet supply stores.

Candida Reduced During Colon Cleanse

hosnee — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:36:36 +0000

Yeast infections are annoying and embarrassing. The most well known form comes under the name of Candida albicans, and when you peruse the medicinal aisle of your local well stocked health food market, you will find that several supplements claim to help rid your body of this yeast. As tempting as this offer may sound, beware the use of such supplements since Candida is actually part and parcel of your gut flora, the very bacteria you rely on to keep your intestines healthy, your food digested, and your gut overall too unfriendly for many harmful bacteria to thrive. Seeking to eradicate Candida albicans will upset the always precarious balance of beneficial bacteria in your intestines and thus will create several gastrointestinal problems.

There are several steps you can take to naturally and behaviorally affect the numbers of these bacteria:
* Drastically reduce your intake of antacids. Instead of relying on these substances to calm your stomach, change your diet to eliminate the offending foods instead of following up dinner or lunch with a course of medication.

* Avoid taking antibiotics unless there is no other course of action available. Whenever possible you should stay away from antibiotics anyways, but in this case Candida is known to flourish and take over the gut flora when the drugs ingested will decimate the otherwise naturally occurring microorganisms in your intestines. The result is an ever growing population of Candida albicans.

* Stay away from alcohol, processed sugary foods and also gluten.

* Interestingly, your choice of birth control may also have an impact on your gut flora. Any method that impacts the hormonal balance of the body – injection, patch, or pill – will have a potentially adverse affect on the microorganisms in your intestines.

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to reduce your yeast bacteria and they do not involve the use of harsh supplements that take out even the beneficial strains of Candida.

1. Begin a seven day colon cleanse regimen and stick to the dietary change this involves. Usually you will be required to ingest larger quantities of water, eat home made broth, and in some cases stay away from solid food altogether. Make sure that you completely understand the colon cleansing process in its entirety before you begin the regimen. Choose a colon cleanser that specifically includes agents that will rid your system of bacteria and intestinal parasites alongside the built up fecal matter. Ingredients listings will be clear about this purpose.

2. As you are undergoing your cleansing, plan a new dietary course to keep going on even after the colon cleanse is finished. This should include organic fruits and vegetables, eaten raw whenever possible, and also whole grains.

3. At the end of your colon cleanse, utilize supplementation that is geared toward introducing beneficial bacteria back to your colon. Remember that with the evacuation of built up fecal matter you most likely will also be loosing a lot of the beneficial bacteria on which you rely to keep your intestines healthy in the first place.

Fighting Parasitic Infections With Colon Cleanses

hosnee — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:36:36 +0000

Do you have parasites living in your intestines? Those living in America will usually answer this question with a nervous laugh and a somewhat decided negative, but you can tell that they are not really sure. Indicators that you might have a parasitic infection are easy enough to recognize:

* Even though you might be consuming healthy foods and whole or even organic foods your hair still looks lackluster, your finger nails are brittle, your skin is oily and may suffer from frequent outbreaks, and you may lack energy no matter how healthy you try to live. In short, the nutrients you eat are never properly digested or make it into your system at all.

* You suffer from bouts of diarrhea with severe cramping, followed by periods of constipation. You have excluded any medications or food allergies and your physician gives you a clean bill of health.

* Blood-work will reveal fluctuating blood sugar levels while stool cultures will most likely reveal the identity of your unbidden gastrointestinal guests.

For many these symptoms are part and parcel of daily life yet instead of taking decisive action to get to the root of the problem, over the counter remedies for fatigue, nutrient supplementation and even medications for blood sugar lows or highs are requested. Interestingly, parasitic infections are quite easy to pick up:
* Do you have a dog, cat, spouse or child whom you kiss?
* Do you eat out without inspecting the hands of those who prepare the foods?
* Do you eat food prepared by street vendors or from questionable locations?

Most everyone probably falls into one of the three categories or maybe even more than one. Thus, the odds that you have parasites in your intestines are better than average. Parasites do not have to be embarrassing, a drain on your body, or even a condition without hope; instead, you can quickly, easily and safely work on removing them from your gut with the help of a colon cleanse combined with a parasitic cleansing. Your local well-stocked health food store is probably your best bet in finding the ingredients your will need. Wormwood tinctures and powders that are known to be destructive on microorganisms most frequently are suggested by those who like to go the natural route. Since pure wormwood is a deadly hallucinogen, it is imperative that you purchase a mix that is ready made for human consumption. Another powerful antihelminthic is the clove which is easily obtained at your health food store.

As you engage in a colon cleanse regimen, include the natural parasite fighters to get rid of the adult parasites as well as their eggs and then you can be sure that when you evacuate the dried fecal matter that might have been building up in your intestines for years or maybe even decades, you can also be confident that the parasites that thus far enjoyed a dark, wet, warm, nutrient rich environment will soon be leaving your body for good and your health will be restored.

Colon Cleansing

hosnee — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:48:36 +0000

Considered the unholy trinity of health food stores, colon cleansing, liver detox and fad dieting seem to have struck up an uneasy alliance. All three have several common characteristics:

* Colon cleansing, liver detox and fad dieting rely on supplements that require consistent expenditures to keep the perceived benefits of the process going. If you lost weight with some supplements, you will need to consider using a maintenance dose to keep the weight off, while some supplements that claim to cleanse your colon in 30 days will require you to keep using a daily maintenance dose to keep the colon from once again getting blocked.

* All three procedures are marketed quite aggressively – and successfully – by playing on consumers’ fear of death and cancer.

* Statements made about colon cleansers, detox supplements and a wide array of fad diets are often too good to be true. Promising to add a decade to your life (nobody is able to make that promise), increase the health of your abdominal cavity (there is no way for you to check on this claim), keep cancer at bay (once again, there is no way for you to check on this), and make you happier (a placebo effect often achieved for at least a little while by those who embark on these procedures), the unholy trinity manages to part consumers and their money to the tune of millions several times over.

Do not misunderstand the importance of a proper diet, an occasional colon cleanse if the symptoms warrant it, and also a liver detox procedure when indicated! As a matter of fact, all of these have a very real and very useful place in today’s society that is surrounded by toxins which are ingested either voluntarily or involuntarily. Yet the idea of using faddish modes to accomplish that which may be done with a few lifestyle changes is generally not a good idea and more often than not will lead to disappointment.

After all, if your lifestyle does not change, then no diet in the world will keep the pounds off. Similarly, if you consistently refuse to supply your body with enough fiber to properly evacuate fecal matter and even fecal buildup, then the occasional colon cleanses will do more harm than good in that it will cause the body to begin a reliance on the laxatives for its voiding procedure. Liver detoxification will not accomplish much if you put added strain on your liver by the herbal supplements you decide to swallow as part of your newfound natural lifestyle. Many of these herbal supplements – on a standalone basis – are very useful, yet when combined with other components and even other herbs will engage in chemical reactions that may cause more harm than good.

If you are truly willing to change your lifestyle, discuss this resolve with your doctor and find out what she or he thinks you need to change, add or take away from your everyday living choices. Find out how fiber supplementation and an elevated water intake can cleanse your colon gently and quickly, while a reduction of protein and alcohol can help your liver to detox.