OTC Colon Cleanse

You've probably heard it before: keep your colon healthy and you'll reap the benefits. Colon cleansing is not as difficult or involved as it sounds, despite the large number of colon-cleanse products on the market. You can keep your colon in good working order by way of the foods you eat, the liquids you drink and a few over-the-counter (OTC) herbs and supplements.

Over-the-Counter Cleanses

• Use fiber supplements to clean away debris and toxins trapped in your colon. The fiber supplement will swell in your digestive tract and act as a broom to sweep waste through your system. You can purchase the supplements in either pill or powder form. Another way to get fiber naturally is through the foods you eat. Add plenty of whole grains, nuts and seeds, beans, fruits and vegetables to your diet every day. Increasing your daily intake of fiber will help you cleanse your system and provide additional benefits as well. Both soluble and insoluble forms of fiber will help you regulate your cholesterol and glucose levels. Insoluble fiber will reduce your risks for getting certain types of cancers and help ward off constipation and hemorrhoids.

  Consume herbs for an all-natural colon cleanse. According to an article titled "The Lowdown on Colon Care" published in the March 1998 issue of the "Vegetarian Times," certain herbs cleanse by ridding the colon of toxins. Visit your local health food store and purchase triphala, cumin, cardamom, fennel seeds, rhubarb root and ginger. You can find these herbs in tea or supplement forms.

  Wash your colon clean by drinking plenty of water on a daily basis. Water helps push food and wastes through the digestive system. It also stimulates the production of a hormone that causes muscular movement in the intestines. Get the full benefits of a water cleanse by drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water each day.

Buyer Beware

• Beware of colon-cleanse products that cost a lot and make claims of miraculous weight loss. These products are not more beneficial than the remedies described above, and some may be downright dangerous. According to Dr. Michael Picco from the Mayo Clinic, in an article published on the clinic's website, colon cleansing may throw the body's natural mechanisms off balance and do more harm than good. Some OTC colon cleansers may cause dehydration and increase your electrolyte levels. Always read the product ingredients and avoid those containing sodium phosphate. Alternatively, you can save yourself a lot of money and achieve the same results by using the all-natural and supplement cleanses outlined above.