Diet to Clean the Intestines

Besides simply digesting and eliminating the food we eat, our digestive tract is an important part of the immune system. Because of the modern Western tendency to exercise less, eat more and consume foods that are processed and full of additives, many of us have developed sluggish and incomplete elimination. This condition can lead to a colon environment in which bacteria can thrive and cause illness. Intestinal cleansing is becoming an important health issue.

Symptoms to Look For

• When you are trying to decide whether you need a cleansing diet, there are a few signs to look for. If you find yourself having frequent constipation (for example, hard stools, or fewer than three bowel movements a week), diarrhea, or if you have chronic fatigue or nonspecific pain, you probably need an intestinal cleanse. While you may want to begin the cleanse with an over-the-counter herbal product, these are not always necessary. The results will be more gradual, but longer-lasting if you change your diet to one that is more bowel friendly.

The Best Diet for Intestinal Cleansing

• The advice you hear from all quarters is to add more vegetables and fruits to your diet. This may sound like common sense, but most of us fail to heed the wisdom of it. In order to function correctly, your intestines need plenty of soluble and insoluble fiber in the form of whole grains and green foods. Soluble fiber holds enough water in your gut to keep the stool soft, and insoluble fiber bulks up to help sweep the stool off the walls of your intestine and out of your body.

  You need protein in order to replace muscle, blood and nerve cells, so eat enough legumes, nuts, lean meats and dairy. Don't overeat these, however, because they require a lot of energy to digest fully. About three ounces of meat or other protein per meal is plenty. Whole grains to include are oats, barley, brown rice and whole wheat. Don't opt for white bread or white rice. These have been stripped of fiber and other important nutrients, then had vitamins added back in, sometimes in a form you cannot metabolize fully.

  Simple carbohydrates like white flour products and table sugar raise the blood sugar too quickly, which over time can cause diabetes and other health issues. They do not provide enough fiber or nutritive value to counteract their potential risks. The current recommendation is to consume at least four servings of vegetables and three servings of fruit every day. This is a minimum, and if you are hungry you can feel free to snack on fruits and vegetables during the day. You'll get plenty of vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and fiber. Your skin will thank you, your scales and measuring tape will thank you, and your colon will thank you.