Foods to Avoid While Using a Colon Cleanser

People do colon cleanses for many reasons. Some want to maintain their health or lose weight, while others are trying to rid their bodies of symptoms or illness. Colon cleansers may help remove systemic yeast, parasites, fecal impactions and toxins. When undergoing a colon cleanse, you should avoid eating certain foods. Substitutes are usually available in lieu of favorite foods.

State of Your Health

• A person's health will dictate how restrictive he needs to be with his diet. For example, those using a colon cleanser for preventive health reasons can usually be more flexible with their diet. People with autoimmune diseases such as chronic fatigue and multiple chemical sensitivities will need to adhere to strict dietary guidelines.

Foods to Avoid

• Despite the state of your health, avoid glutens, sugars and yeast when using a colon cleanser. The problem is that most commercial breads, cereals, pastas, pastries, cookies, crackers and milk contain one of these components. You should not eat these foods during a colon cleanse treatment. Wheat and yeast products have the highest amount of glutens, which are proteins with a high glycemic index. Chocolate, cow's milk and most cold cereals contain sugar. Alcohols contain yeast and sugar. Normally, if you eliminate foods with glutens, you'll also eliminate the yeast and sugar.

  In addition to the above items, avoid the following foods: pizza, pretzels, muffins, bran products, sausage, gravy powders, baked beans, cheese, fudge, white rice and most dairy products. If in doubt, check the ingredient label and make sure the food contains no wheat, sugar, yeast or whey.

Substitute Foods

• Fortunately, there are many substitute foods for the majority of commercial products. For example, those who like pasta can use a variety of brown rice pastas. There is little difference in taste. If you must have bread, buy rice, almond and spelt alternatives at a health-food store. Many cookies and crackers are made from almonds, pecans and hazelnut. Moreover, use brown rice substitutes for milk and ice cream. You can even enjoy the taste of chocolate chip ice cream by buying an ice cream alternative that includes carob, which is naturally sweet.

Foods to Eat

• The following foods contain no glutens: Meats, brown rice, potatoes, yams, fresh beans, almonds, vegetables and fruits. Oatmeal and corn have low levels of sugar, so you can usually eat them during a colon cleanse.

Duration of Diet

• Most colon cleansers are used for two to four weeks. After that, introduce most foods back into your diet. Those with candida problems, foods allergies or illnesses should continue to stay on a gluten-free diet until their symptoms improve.