What is cleansing your colon?
Cleansing your colon is a necessary practice that aims to flush out your colon or large intestines from wastes, toxins, and harmful bacteria that have built-up over time. Your digestive tract works to break down the food that you eat, process and absorb nutrients, and release whatever it is your body doesn’t need in the form of a healthy bowel movement and not store them.
Due to the majority of refined and processed foods available in the market today, your gut has become less effective at cleansing your body of toxins, many of which have made themselves at home in your colon.
Over the decade, studies and better practices on gut health and the health of your gut’s inhabitants, also called gut microbiome, have become more and more popular due to its impact on your overall health due to its ability to guard against infectious organisms like bacteria and viruses, as well as have an impact on your mental health and general well-being as it communicates with the brain via hormones and nerves.
An unhealthy gut has been found to contribute to a host of problems; from more serious illnesses such as diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other chronic diseases, to discomforts like constipation. Studies have also found that gut health is also linked to feeling sluggish, depression and obesity. More information can be found at
Do you need to cleanse your colon?
Your gut health contributes greatly to your body and mind well-being. Colon cleansing can help with:
● Removing harmful toxins from the body
● Adding to your energy levels
● Increasing your immunity
● Weight loss
● Manageable moods
● Less anxiety
● Brighter skin
Below is a list of symptoms that will help you determine if your colon needs a good cleansing.
1. Constipation
Constipation is one of the more obvious symptoms to a problem with your colon. A healthy number of bowel movements can range from three times a day to thrice in a week. If you are unable to pass bowels often enough, health problems can occur.
2. Chronic Fatigue
Ever feel sluggish all the time even if you’ve had enough food and rest? This might be a sign that you need a colon cleanse.
Researchers have found that regularly feeling tired is directly linked in people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
3. Gas Build-up and Bloating
Your colon is used to storing wastes in your body and absorbs minerals as well as excess water left over after digestion. However, due to modern diets lacking in fiber that help clean out your colon, the buildup of stool that does not exit your colon rot in your gut causes blockages, and releases toxins that produce gas and create problems for your colon.
4. Brain Fog
Do you feel like your mind has been in a perpetual haze? Can’t think clearly? Always forgetting something? Taking a longer time to process mental functions?
This might not be a proper scientific term but this explains succinctly how you might feel when toxins have made residence in your colon. Scientists have studied that people with IBS had impaired brain functions.
If you’ve experienced one or more of these symptoms, you might want to consider getting a colon cleanse.
5. Ever-Changing Moods
Not only does your gut affect how you think and how your brain functions, it also affects your mood.
Gut health is analyzed by the amount and types of bacteria present in your gut. Studies have shown that there are certain strains of bacteria that are beneficial to your health by, for example, strengthening your immune system. However, if you don’t keep your gut microbes in check, other strains of bacteria will overpower the beneficial ones making you sick or changing how you feel.
In recent studies, it was found that having a healthy community of microbes in your gut – otherwise known as the microbiota – makes you feel better. People who have an overgrowth of harmful ones are prone to more frequent mood swings and may even develop into more serious conditions like depression and bipolar disorder.
6. Acne and other skin problems
What goes on inside your body can reflect on your skin. Researchers have found out that up to 40% of patients with Crohn’s disease display skin disorders while patients with irritable bowel disease also have skin problems.
Although gut health may not be the only reason for skin conditions, many still find that better diets and a healthy colon keeps their skin clear.
Is colon cleansing safe?
It’s no question that gut health is important. However, colon cleansing, depending on the method you choose as well as your pre-existing health conditions, may not be safe for everyone – especially for those with kidney problems and heart disease whose ability to balance body fluids are already compromised.
Potential side effects of some forms of colon cleansing include:
● Dehydration due to the elimination of fluids from your body
● Imbalance of electrolytes
● Change in the natural good bacteria in your colon
Hence, it is still important to ask for the guidance of a healthcare professional to decide what options may be best for you and make sure that your method of cleansing will not pose any side effects that may be more harm than good.
Ways to cleanse your colon
There are many methods of cleansing one’s gut and can range from more aggressive methods to methods that are safer and more natural.
Colonic Irrigation and Enemas are methods for colon cleansing that utilize equipment and will need the guidance of a medical professional. Colonic irrigation is a procedure usually performed to prepare a patient for colonoscopy where large amounts of water is utilized to flush out your entire colon. An enema on the other hand, only provide a partial cleanse and utilizes the lower part of your colon. Due to the invasiveness of these methods, it is recommended to consult a licensed medical practitioner first if a colonic irrigation or enema is necessary.
If you are looking for a safer approach to keeping your gut healthy, we at Life Infused, recommend more natural methods of colon cleansing:
Fiber-rich and Plant-based Diet
The most natural method for a healthy colon would be to keep a healthy lifestyle and to consume a balanced diet rich in fiber. Fiber is present in natural plant foods such as fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables that not only help in naturally flushing out toxins in your body, but also provide vitamins and minerals that not only support you but also the good bacteria in your gut.
Fried, processed, and meat-heavy diets have been linked to an increase in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastrointestinal disorders, and contribute to higher risk of heart diseases.
Probiotics
Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain natural bacteria that can add to the population of good bacteria in your gut to ensure healthy digestion. Probiotics can commonly be found in fermented foods such as miso, kimchi, tempeh, sauerkraut, and yoghurt. Probiotics can help in lowering the pH levels in your colon and ease constipation.
To fast track the population of good bacteria in your gut, you can take probiotic supplements like Flora Infused for healthy gut balance or ones with digestive enzymes such as Digest Infused with your meals to help digest your food better.
Herbal Cleansing
Some plants, such as aloe vera, senna, marshmallow root, and psyllium husk are commonly used natural laxatives in groceries. These herbs can be effective but also create bowel dependence and can be harsh and disruptive to your every routine.
Oxygenated Magnesium
Oxygenated magnesium is one of the more popular, and safest ways to cleanse your colon that supports your body’s natural cleansing process. The oxygen reacts to break down and soften your bowels, breaking it free from the colon lining while Magnesium draws water to further assist your colon in gently flushing out wastes and relaxes the bowel muscles making it easier to pass.
A colon cleansing supplement such as Cleanse Infused Plus also features enzymes that help break down wastes and a special blend of herbs that neutralize toxins in your gut.
A healthy colon leads to a positive effect on your body and general well-being. Before starting a colon cleanse, you should always seek the advice of a medical professional, most especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
However, for safer methods of keeping your gut healthy at the comfort of your home, keeping good habits, a healthy diet, and choosing more gentle methods in colon cleansing is your best option.
