Herbal Colon Cleanse & Weight Loss

Weight loss diets and fads have come and gone throughout recent history as the obsession with becoming thinner has progressed. Herbal colon cleanses can sometimes be viewed as a "fad" weight loss trick, but there are real health benefits and the promise of weight loss in using them. There is essential information worth knowing before beginning such a process, however.

Identification

• Herbal colon cleanses claim to be able to clear out the digestive system, including the liver, kidneys, intestines and colon, using natural ingredients and certain herbs. These cleanses have claimed to remove excess fecal matter from the colon, improve digestion and even facilitate weight loss. They are most commonly found in pill form, but there are water cleansing and liquid cleanses available, as well as homemade concoctions made with particular herbs and other substances.

Benefits

• The biggest benefit claimed by herbal colon cleanses is the weight loss that can result from undergoing the process. Removing toxins and excess matter from your body obviously can reduce weight, but the biggest advantage that comes from colon cleansing is helping your digestive system work well. Helping your body function to better absorb nutrients will increase weight loss by making your body a healthier one. Other benefits include a boosted immune system and increased energy levels that that were diminished because of excess material. Removing toxins collected from processed and fast foods can also help the body function better.

Herbs

• Each brand of colon cleanse boasts different herbs and natural ingredients that produce certain effects to cleanse the digestive system, but there are some that are more common. Most contain B vitamins, because colon cleansing can take energy from you and vitamin B can restore it. Extract from senna leaf, beet root and wheat grass, cranberry juice powder and milk thistle are also common. These other herbs are used to remove waste and toxins from the digestive tract, liver, kidneys, intestines and other organs.

Time Frame

• When trying to increase weight loss through herbal colon cleansing, results can usually be seen almost immediately. A normal colon cleanse is described as a 10-day cleanse, after which you should be able to see and feel the results. You should feel somewhat lighter and healthier toward the end of the 10-day cycle. Long-term effects can last for up to six months, however. During that time, you will feel naturally healthier, your skin may be smoother and you may lose more weight as a result of improved body function.

Warning

• It is important to discuss the herbal colon cleanse with a doctor before beginning it. For those who have colon problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer or even severe constipation or diarrhea, the colon cleanse may be harmful or dangerous to use. A doctor can advise you on whether it will be safe to undergo, and can help you with a healthy diet to continue weight loss after the initial results.