Foods to Avoid for a Colon Cleanse

A healthy colon is essential for good health and a long life. But over time, an unhealthy diet can cause problems with the colon, as it backs up with undigested food and toxins that can affect the health of the entire body. A periodic colon cleanse helps prevent disease and discomfort, though you need to avoid certain foods for an effective result.

Processed Meats

• Processed meats such as hot dogs, salami, pepperoni, bologna and bacon typically contain sodium nitrite, a known carcinogen that (according to the University of Hawaii) increases the risk for pancreatic cancer by 67 percent. Nitrites contain chemicals called nitrosamines that promote the growth and spread of cancerous cells everywhere in the body. The colon should never be exposed to such dangerous chemicals, so steer clear of processed meats during a cleanse and choose fresh, lean cuts of meat as often as possible.

Hydrogenated Oils

• When liquid oils are infused with hydrogen to extend their shelf life, the process creates trans fats. These unnatural fats have been linked to a host of illnesses and disease including high cholesterol, heart disease and colon cancer; the FDA now requires that manufacturers label them on their products. The body digests them with difficulty, and you should avoid them when trying to cleanse the colon. Avoid any foods that list hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil as an ingredient.

Beef

• Red meat carries an increased risk for colorectal cancer, according to a 2008 study published in Cancer Research. The saturated fat naturally found in most cuts of beef plays a role in the development of cancer in the small intestine. Moreover, conventionally raised beef typically contains copious amounts of antibiotics and hormones, making it much harder on the digestive system. Frequent consumption of conventionally raised beef can lead to impaction of feces or possibly toxicity. To give your system a break, eliminate red meat entirely during a colon cleanse, then slowly add it back in limited quantities, and only choose the leanest, most natural cuts of meat.

Soda

• Sweetened soft drinks are full of sugar, additives and caffeine, and provide little or no nutritional benefit. Even diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners not found in nature, making them hard to digest. During a colon cleanse, you need to flush out unhealthy toxins; help the process along by replacing sugary sodas and energy drinks with plain water and organic fruit and vegetable juices.

Refined Carbohydrates

• Refined carbohydrates such as white bread, biscuits, cookies and crackers had had their whole grain broken down. This process removes much of the natural fiber and causes refined grains to behave much differently than their whole grain counterparts when they reach the colon. The absence of natural fiber causes refined grains to form harder, more compact stools, which are more difficult to pass and could lead to constipation. According to Ken Babal, certified Los Angeles nutritionist, a diet high in refined carbohydrates also upsets the body's delicate digestive balance by reducing the number of good bacteria in the intestines. For a healthier, cleaner colon, stick to whole, minimally processed grains.