Colon Detox: Best Methods

{Other Detox 101 Posts}
Why Detox
Detox FAQs
Full Body Detox: Juice Fasting Method
Detox: Staying Hydrated
Heavy Metal Detox: Bentonite Clay
Liver Detox: Herbal Cleansing Method
Skin Detox: Dry Brushing Method

You know the saying, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”? Let’s swap out a few words… “If your COLON ain’t happy, ain’t no body part happy”! Keeping your colon clean and healthy is vital for a strong, healthy body. Doing a colon cleanse is a great way to help remove and prevent toxin build-up; allowing you colon to function properly.

We have already covered several great body detox methods, but in my humble opinion, the most important type of cleanse for any human being is most likely a colon cleanse. Before we get into the “hows” of colon detoxing, let’s looks at the “whys”. {Note: this is long post, but stick with me…please}

What your colon actually does…

{image source: Flickr}

The colon or large intestine is the end portion of the human gastrointestinal tract. Its main responsibilities are to store and elimination of fecal waste, reclaim water, sodium and potassium, maintain water balance, absorb some vitamins and provide a location for flora (good gut bacteria)-aided fermentation. The “beneficial” bacteria promote vital nutrient production, maintain pH balance, and prevent proliferation of harmful bacteria.

Most nutrients have already been thoroughly digested and absorbed by the time the food reaches the large intestines and what remains are mostly waste products. Fiber is actually not digestible through the GI tract, so when fiber reaches the large intestine it adds bulk to your stool. Fiber also encourages safe and comfortable elimination which is crucial to remove toxic waste.

What happens when your colon doesn’t function properly…

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As mentioned in previous “Detox 101” posts, our Western diet leaves much to be desired as far as supporting a healthy body. With all the fried, starchy foods, sugar, soda pop, medications, smoking and alcohol consumed by the average American, it’s not hard to see why we have such severe medical complications. Your colon cannot thrive or survive without proper hydration, healthy eating habits (like careful chewing), fiber, fresh fruits and veggies and good gut flora.

Consuming Micky D’s or other chain fast-food restaurants three or four times a week will clog up your system fast! All of the undigested grease and additives create a plaque build-up on your intestinal lining, making it extremely difficult for you colon to function properly. Add a fizzy pop or beer, which dehydrates you in a second, and you’re cruising for a bruising!

To give you an idea of what could {and frequently does} happen when your colon is out of whack:

Irritable bowel syndrome
Asthma and allergies
Cancer
Diseases and frequent infections
Fatigue and insomnia
Diverticulitis
Acne and wrinkles
Stomach pain and ulcers
Headaches
Arthritis
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Weight gain
Depression
Irritability

The best way to prevent these diseases and many others is to keep that colon clean and happy!

Colon detoxing methods…

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There are several ways to safely cleanse your colon in the comfort of your home and there are several ways to cleanse your colon under the safe supervision of a profession health care provider. Some ways are certainly more effective than others, but covering them all could be a series by itself

Let’s go over some simple, effective ways to get your gut cleaned out and working well!

Fasting – I definitely recommend beginning a fast of sorts as part of a healthy colon cleanse. I love juice fasting, it is a great way to reboot your intestinal tract. “Daniel” fasting is another great way to reset your gut… removing all refined foods and sugar, breads, dairy and at least red meat from your diet for an allotted amount of time. You may be wondering “what will I be able to eat then?” and the answer is lots of super-good-for-you-foods! Fresh, raw veggies and fruit, nuts, beans, whole grains and lots of water. {See previous post of juice fasting}

Fiber Supplementing – Adding an excellent source of fiber to your daily diet and before bed is another great way to gain better colon health! Want to know my top fiber choices? No, it’s not prunes… Try psyllium, apple pectin and flax and chia seeds. These will swell and add a perfect amount of lubrication in your intestinal lining and the seeds will actually gently scrape the walls of your colon to loosen the plaque build-up. Together they make the important job of evacuating toxic waste much easier. {My favorite fiber mix}

Herbal Aid – Herbs also play an important role in natural colon cleansing. Here are just a few herbs I like to use:

Garlic - gets rid of parasites and is the most excellent internal antimicrobial
Bentonite clay – pulls toxins and metals out of the intestinal wall
Slippery Elm bark – soothes inflammation, cleans out waste
Activated Charcoal – absorbs gas build-up due to toxins and detoxing
Aloe Juice – soothes the gut lining, loosens plaque build-up on colon

Other ideas – Depending on your health needs and concerns, you may also want to look into the Master Cleanse… Colonic Therapy… a Squatty Potty and other colon health ideas.

How long should I cleanse my colon…

You should always be aware of your colon health, always! Make a mental note of how often you are eliminating, if you notice a more-foul-than-it-ought-to-be smell, and changes in consistency. Okay, okay! I know it’s gross, but it is SO important to know what is going on in your intestinal system!

As far as how often and how long one should do a colon detox, well… it all depends on the individual, their lifestyle, their person health condition and risk of colon cancer. A healthy person who is fit, active and eats mostly veggies and raw food won’t need to participate in a colon cleanse more than once a year or so.

But someone who has a long history poor eating habits, lack of regular exercise or some sort of chronic disease would benefit from a long (4-6 week) cleanse and lifestyle change. This type of person may need a “reboot” every 4-6 months to keep them on a healthy track.

A general rule to go by is to cleanse for 10 days, if you don’t have foul stools, then you can probably stop then cleanse and engage in a healthy lifestyle including wise food choices. If you are still experiencing foul stools, continue your cleanse until you no longer notice the foul odor.

Does an HERBAL COLON CLEANSE KIT giveaway from Bulk Herb Store interest anyone??? Yep, I thought so!{GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

So… the gals at Bulk Herb Store are super amazing! So amazing, that when they heard we were doing our Detox 101 series, they offered to send me and one of my lovely readers their entire Herbal Colon Cleanse Kit!

{enter happy dance}

Let me tell you what… if you win this, your colon will be doing a happy dance too! My colon was quite relieved to be free of all the excess waste I had allowed to build-up in the scary, dark crevices of my large intestine. I will spare you the details {my hubby wasn’t so lucky, haha} BUT I will tell you… if you are committed to completing the cleanse, you will see amazing results like, clearer skin, no constipation, less smelly sweat, clearer mind, weight loss (if needed), and a boost of confidence! You will feel great!

This kit includes:

6 lbs Bentonite clay powder
2 lbs Detox+
1 lb garlic powder
1 lb activated charcoal powder
1/2 lb 135K HU cayenne pepper

Detox+ is Bulk Herb Store’s exclusive mix of cleansing herbs. It includes Bentonite clay powder, apple fruit pectin, flax seed, psyllium seed, slippery elm bark powder, marshmallow root powder, bilberry fruit powder, peppermint leaf powder, and activated charcoal powder.

Bentonite Clay draws metals and toxins into its sponge-like surface by electrical attraction and bonding. They are then eliminated as the clay passes through the body. This is an effective way to cleanse your body of toxins and help restore balance to your system.

Activated Charcoal Powder works as an absorbent of toxins in the digestive system, relieves gases, can eliminate fungi, viruses and bacteria, and may promote recovery from food poisoning.

Cayenne Powder stimulates every system and cell of the body. Cayenne has been valued around the world for its uses as a stimulant, astringent, antispasmodic, circulatory tonic, anti-depressant and antibacterial agent.

Garlic Powder helps stimulate the flow of blood and lymph, expels phlegm and otherwise improves the internal environment to make it unfriendly to harmful micro-organisms. It is effective against toxic bacteria, viruses, and fungi.