With additives in our food, pesticides on our crops, and pollution all around us, many might say we live in a toxic age.[1] Sometimes all that toxic buildup can take its toll on the colon, which encumbers digestion and overall health. When your colon is backed up with toxic material, your entire body becomes sluggish and unable to perform its day-to-day tasks. Luckily, your body does a pretty good job detoxifying itself on a regular basis; however, some toxins remain in the body and require some help to facilitate removal. Helping your body detoxify itself isn’t too difficult when you stop and think about it. Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise are two powerful components.[2]. But sometimes we need a bit more when it comes to toxins, many of which can easily store themselves in the colon. So, if you think you need a colon cleanse, or you just want to look into the idea, don’t put it off. Here are 5 great benefits of colon cleansing you should know.
5 Benefits of Colon Cleansing
1. Improves Digestion and Prevents Constipation
Constipation can make for poor digestion, and vice versa. When digestion is impaired and constipation ensues, waste products can linger in your body. This whole process can lead to the inability to absorb many of the nutrients you’re taking in, leading to a lack of energy and and hampered immune function. Detoxing your colon allows those undigested waste products to be pushed through your system and also puts some ease in your bowel regularity. Since lingering waste can breed bacteria, this purge clears the way for good nutrient absorption, thereby supporting good health.[3]
2. Increases Energy and Concentration
Purging toxins from your colon allows energy from the intestines to place focus elsewhere, meaning your energy levels could improve.[4] Nutrition is very important to mental health, and the weak vitamin absorption before your colon cleanse may lead to loss of concentration. In addition to you having more energy, absorption of crucial vitamins responsible for mental clarity is improved, meaning your concentration may also be supported.[5]
3. Jumpstarts Weight Loss
Low-fiber choices are often the result of a poor diet. These foods are terrible for digestion, and typically hinder the body’s ability to register the feeling of fullness.[6] It’s very challenging to relieve yourself of low-fiber foods compared with high-fiber options, and these foods will often linger much longer in the gut. When you cleanse the colon, this matter is flushed from the system, and, in some, may lead to significant weight loss that stays off. But if you’re looking to lose weight, one study suggests that simply increasing fiber intake can also help you shed unwanted pounds.[7]
4. Supports Overall Colon Health
5. Encourages Whole Body Detox
As previously mentioned, your body is extremely intelligent in that it is constantly detoxifying itself every day. But sometimes, in combination with environmental factors and poor lifestyle habits, it’s hard to catch up, and your body may begin showing signs of colon toxic overload. An oxygen-based cleanser like Oxy-Powder® may be helpful for encouraging colon detoxification by releasing oxygen.[9] Oxygen is very important for facilitating removal of toxins, as is drinking plenty of clean, fresh water.
Something to Keep in Mind
If you find yourself feeling sluggish, detoxifying your colon might be just the thing you need. Be sure to research extensively before doing a colon cleanse, and always talk to your doctor to find the best solution for you. While most cleanses can be performed by virtually anyone, you need to listen to your body and do what’s right for you, keeping your past or current health history in mind, prior to making a lifestyle change.
Have you ever tried a colon cleanse or thought about doing one? Tell us about it in the comments below.
References (9)
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- Salim S.Y., Kaplan G.G., Madsen K.L. “Air pollution effects on the gut microbiota: a link between exposure and inflammatory disease.” Gut Microbes. (2014): 215-219.
- Fathallah N., Bouchard D., De parades V. “Diet and lifestyle rules in chronic constipation in adults: From fantasy to reality.” Presse Med. 2017: 23-30.
- Jumpertz R., Le D.S., Turnbaugh P.J., et al. “Energy-balance studies reveal associations between gut microbes, caloric load, and nutrient absorption in humans.” Am J Clin Nutr. (2011): 58-65.
- Vollebregt P.F., Elfrink A.K., Meijerink W.J., Felt-bersma R.J. “Results of long-term retrograde rectal cleansing in patients with constipation or fecal incontinence.” Tech Coloproctol. (2016): 633-9.
- Rieder R., Wisniewski P.J., Alderman B.L., Campbell S.C. “Microbes and mental health: A review.” Brain Behav Immun. (2017):
- Klosterbuer A., Roughead Z.F., Slavin J. “Benefits of dietary fiber in clinical nutrition.” Nutr Clin Pract. (2011): 625-635.
- Slavin J.L. “Dietary fiber and body weight.” Nutrition. (2005): 411-8.
- Haque T.R., Barritt A.S. “Intestinal microbiota in liver disease.” Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. (2016): 133-142.
- Murakami K., Sasaki S., Okubo H., et al. “Association between dietary fiber, water and magnesium intake and functional constipation among young Japanese women.” Eur J Clin Nutr. (2007): 616.
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