Our digestive system has functioned the same way since the beginning of time, but the food we eat has changed considerably since then. The further away from a natural, raw diet, the worse off our bodies will be. When things are cooked and essentially broken down before they hit our stomachs, that decreases the amount of time necessary for digestion, which in turn limits the nutrients available for absorption. But the final bit of nastiness that results is how that waste builds up in the colon.
A meal consisting of raw foods full of fiber takes longer to digest, which means the previous meal has more time to move through and exit our body. The image reminds me of Lucy working in the chocolate factory. All those little chocolates picking up speed on the conveyor belt until a big, messy buildup ensues. Although, the scenario I'm talking about is a bit less appealing – and much more dangerous.
What Problems Do Colon Toxins Cause?
The obvious answer would be constipation and diarrhea. However, there are many other diseases that develop from a build up of toxins within the colon. Hemorrhoids, bloating, backaches, allergies, skin problems, body odor and halitosis (chronic bad breath) are just a few of them. All that backed up waste results in gas having nowhere to go (bloating), and the fermentation that results sends some pretty foul smells to your mouth (halitosis). The added pressure in your midsection is often the culprit behind backaches and hemorrhoids, and the toxins that end up getting absorbed back into the bloodstream (leaky gut syndrome) cause allergies, skin problems and can do serious damage to the liver, kidney and even the lungs.
How Do I Clean Out the Toxins?
There are a few different steps that are necessary to a thorough cleanse. The first thing you should do is adjust your diet. Stick to raw fruits and veggies, and drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. You can lightly steam the veggies if you like, but please don't use the microwave to do so. What you're basically doing is increasing the fiber and eliminating all the harmful effects associated with cooked carbs, grains and meat.
The next step would be to kill off the parasites. Yes, parasites. Every healthy body is full of beneficial organisms, but the likelihood that we will contract harmful bacteria is pretty much 100%. Parasites tend to gravitate towards weakened areas to feed, and when a colon is backed up and turning into a toxin factory, well, that's exactly where those feisty little varmints will be setting up house. This will only exacerbate the issues, so getting rid of the parasites is definitely essential to detoxifying the colon. There are three herbs that work best for this: black walnut hulls in tincture form, wormwood (scientific name "artemesia") and cloves (either tincture or capsule form). During the first week, add 30 drops of the black walnut hulls tincture to one cup of organic apple juice and drink it along with one capsule each of wormwood and clove. For week two, increase the capsules to two each, and in week three increase to three capsules each. By the end of the third week, you should be golden, but if not, simply maintain the week three dosage for up to three months.
How Often Do I Need to Do a Cleanse?
Truthfully, that all depends on your overall health and diet. If you consume plenty of water, limit processed foods, avoid or limit common toxins (alcohol, tobacco, sugar, caffeine), take probiotics, chew thoroughly, exercise daily, take omega-3 supplement daily and get plenty of fiber in your diet, then you should be able to maintain colon health by doing a total body cleanse once a year. Otherwise, stick to a spring/fall schedule unless, of course, your body tells you it should be more often.
What are Some Symptoms That I Should Do a Cleanse?
Aside from those mentioned above, there are plenty of other symptoms associated with intestinal issues: headaches, depression, mental dullness, fatigue or low energy, joint aches (especially the knees), excessive candida, swollen lymph nodes, bloating and gas, nausea and poor digestion.
Go ahead, get started. You'll lose weight, kill parasites, and look and smell better. Sounds like a win-win to me.
Sources:
naturalhealthschool.com, "The Intestinal System, Lesson 7, page 4 of 5" (accessed November 10, 2010)
the-natural-path.com, "Parasite Cleanse The Natural Herbal Way" (accessed November 10, 2010)
healingdaily.com, "Colon/Kidney Detoxification" (accessed November 10, 2010)
colonsource.com, "How Often Should I Cleanse My Colon?" (accessed November 10, 2010)
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Rebecca Luerssen - Reading and writing have always been loves of mine, and I have a habit of losing myself when absorbed with written words. I am a ...
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