Colon Cleanse & Slimming

The colon is the large intestine that makes and stores waste until it is evacuated. Colon cleansing is the process of getting colonics or consuming dried plants and herbs designed to move waste through the body.
During a colonic, a specially-designed machine moves water through the colon to loosen the waste and it is evacuated by a simple pump. People undergoes colon cleansing as a way to maintain colon health and sometimes to help them lose weight.
Many adults do not have daily bowel movements and this creates other health issues that can become serious, including diverticulosis and colon cancer.
Colon cleansing has long been done through the use of eating certain herbs and plants such as senna pods and leaves, cascara sagrada and aloe vera leaf. These are laxatives that can be combined with other herbs such as slippery elm to make the colon cleanse less dramatic.

Identification

• Throughout history, different cultures relied on plants and herbs to colon cleanse. This might have been done between the seasons to clear the gastrointestinal tract of parasites and to prepare physically for a new season.
  Today, colon cleansing often means taking herbs such as senna, cascara sagrada, aloe vera leaf, and other herbs that act as an "intestinal broom" to sweep out all waste that may remain in the colon.
  If you find that you have too dramatic a colon cleanse using these methods, see your doctor. She may recommend you simply add dried prunes to your diet or use other methods to colon cleanse.
  You can purchase many colon cleanse products in a health food store or online. You could also see a colon hydrotherapist. Getting a colonic involves eating less before your visit and at the session having a small tube placed in your anus where water is introduced and later evacuated, removing waste.
  Later, a client takes probiotics such as lactobacillus acidophilus, which are live cultures, to ensure the intestinal gut has healthy bacteria to assist digestion.

Considerations

• People undergo a colon cleanse generally because they may feel constipated or as a regular practice to maintain optimum health.
  While naturopaths may recommend colon cleansing, it can be overdone.
  If you are anxious to lose weight quickly, colon cleansing might be a way to jumpstart your weight loss program, but it cannot be the only step. Following a healthful diet, getting regular exercise and rest is more likely to result in permanent weight loss.

Misconceptions

• Colon cleansing is often advertised as a way to eliminate "belly fat." But in reality, it is difficult to "spot reduce" in just one area of the body. The tried and true way to reduce belly fat is eating a low-fat diet and exercising regularly.
  Other than liposuction, it is not realistic to believe that getting a colonic or undergoing a colon cleanse by taking laxatives will take inches off the waistline.
  However, for someone who has not been following a healthful diet, undergoing a colon cleanse can make following a diet easier.
  Every individual's experience will vary, but most people who have a colonic or take colon-cleansing herbs do find they remove a considerable amount of waste out of the body.
  If colon cleansing is made a part of an overall plan that includes exercise and a balanced diet, the result can be lasting weight loss.

Benefits

• For someone who is irregular, colon cleansing will make a difference. If you are very constipated, see your doctor. In very extreme cases of constipation, it may no longer be wise to get a colonic or take colon-cleansing herbs. Instead, a similar procedure may have to be performed in a hospital setting.
  Those who colon cleanse between the seasons sometimes do it as a part of seasonal fasting. This may mean eating only fruits and vegetables for several days and eating colon-cleansing herbs to clear the digestive tract.
  For other people on a targeted weight loss plan, colon cleansing may be combined with juice fasting where only vegetable and fruit juices are consumed. This is often done at health spas where guests attend specifically to lose weight over a two week or longer timeframe.

Warning

• If you have never had a colonic or taken colon-cleansing herbs, talk with your doctor or other medical professional for advice. Generally, colon cleansing is safe for most people, however, do not be surprised if you mainstream Western doctor does not recommend them.
  Colon cleansing is still seen as a somewhat "counter culture" or alternative medical practice.
  If you have any chronic diseases or have a history of any irritable bowel syndrome or have an eating disorder, do not do any colon cleansing unless you are supervised by your physician.

Prevention/Solution

• Colon cleansing can be a practice of self-care if it is not abused. Taking colon-cleansing herbs as a daily laxative is extreme. This can result in a reliance on the laxatives.
  Instead, if you have medical clearance from your doctor, consider a colon once a season or slowly introduce colon-cleansing herbs when you are able to slow down your schedule and allow your body to cleanse properly.
  Ideally, a colonic or directed colon cleanse is use only very occasionally to maintain health.
  Staying well-hydrated by drinking several glasses of water between meals and getting adequate exercise will help move the bowel and manage weight over the long term so that you won't have to resort to extreme measures.