Colon Cleansing Cautions

Doctors will at times prescribe a colon cleansing to be done just before a procedure like a colonoscopy. There are many persons who will routinely do colon cleansing to rid their body of toxins. When doing colon cleansings it is important to understand your body's natural ability to care for the colon so as not to disturb the delicate balance that happens with the electrolyte balance and the natural balance of bodily fluids. If colon cleansing is done on a long-term basis or if you do excessive cleansing you can cause problems such as anemia, malnutrition or even heart failure. It is important to understand when a colon cleanse is necessary and when it is best to let your body do its own cleansing.

Constipation:

Many individuals feel the need to do a colon cleanse when they are constipated. Constipation is your body's way of signaling the need for more fiber in the diet and the need for more water. By giving your body what it needs, more water and fiber, the constipation will correct itself. If you are younger than 50 you should be getting 25 grams of fiber a day if you are a woman and 38 grams of fiber a day if you are a man. If you are older than 50 you should be consuming 30 grams of fiber a day if a man and 21 grams of fiber a day if you are a woman.

There are practices that some report to be beneficial to your colon that may have harmful consequences if used incorrectly or excessively. Such practices are laxative usage, colonic irrigation and herbal cleanses.

Laxatives such as cascara or castor oil can cause damage to nerve cellin in the colon wall. If nerve cells are damaged the colon decreases the force of contractions, which will increase the occurance of constipation.

Colonic irrigation can be expensive as much as $75 for each session with up to 6 sessions being recommended. Colonic irrigation needs to be sterilized between treatments otherwise diseases can be spread from one patient to another. Heart failure can occur is excessive fluid is absorbed into the bloodsteam causing an electrolyte imbalance. There has been no licensing or training to operate a colonic-irrigation device. in 1985, a California judge ruled that colonic irrigation was an invasive procedure and said that it may not be performed because it did no good and could only bring harm. This according to the National Council Against Health Fraud, 1995.

Candida Reduced During Colon Cleanse

Yeast infections are annoying and embarrassing. The most well known form comes under the name of Candida albicans, and when you peruse the medicinal aisle of your local well stocked health food market, you will find that several supplements claim to help rid your body of this yeast. As tempting as this offer may sound, beware the use of such supplements since Candida is actually part and parcel of your gut flora, the very bacteria you rely on to keep your intestines healthy, your food digested, and your gut overall too unfriendly for many harmful bacteria to thrive. Seeking to eradicate Candida albicans will upset the always precarious balance of beneficial bacteria in your intestines and thus will create several gastrointestinal problems.

There are several steps you can take to naturally and behaviorally affect the numbers of these bacteria:
Drastically reduce your intake of antacids. Instead of relying on these substances to calm your stomach, change your diet to eliminate the offending foods instead of following up dinner or lunch with a course of medication.
Avoid taking antibiotics unless there is no other course of action available. Whenever possible you should stay away from antibiotics anyways, but in this case Candida is known to flourish and take over the gut flora when the drugs ingested will decimate the otherwise naturally occurring microorganisms in your intestines. The result is an ever growing population of Candida albicans.
Stay away from alcohol, processed sugary foods and also gluten.
Interestingly, your choice of birth control may also have an impact on your gut flora. Any method that impacts the hormonal balance of the body – injection, patch, or pill – will have a potentially adverse affect on the microorganisms in your intestines.

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to reduce your yeast bacteria and they do not involve the use of harsh supplements that take out even the beneficial strains of Candida.
1.Begin a seven day colon cleanse regimen and stick to the dietary change this involves. Usually you will be required to ingest larger quantities of water, eat home made broth, and in some cases stay away from solid food altogether. Make sure that you completely understand the colon cleansing process in its entirety before you begin the regimen. Choose a colon cleanser that specifically includes agents that will rid your system of bacteria and intestinal parasites alongside the built up fecal matter. Ingredients listings will be clear about this purpose.
2.As you are undergoing your cleansing, plan a new dietary course to keep going on even after the colon cleanse is finished. This should include organic fruits and vegetables, eaten raw whenever possible, and also whole grains.
3.At the end of your colon cleanse, utilize supplementation that is geared toward introducing beneficial bacteria back to your colon. Remember that with the evacuation of built up fecal matter you most likely will also be loosing a lot of the beneficial bacteria on which you rely to keep your intestines healthy in the first place.

Burnt By Your Colon Cleanse? Wonder What Made The Manufacturer Do It?

The universality of the Internet makes it the best place to find killer bargains but it also makes it the premier piece of real estate for hoaxes, quackery, snake oil salesman, and mountebanks. Herbal supplements in particular are quite possibly the favorite good to hawk by those who do not worry about the consumer but instead are ready, willing, and apparently quite able to line their pockets with your hard earned money. Colon cleansers in particular have the dubious distinction of being heavily marketed with the help of affiliates and thus the danger of getting burnt by this product is higher than it is with other supplements. Of course, the fact that the results of getting burned are much more readily visible most likely helped the supplements make the hall of shame since other dietary supplements that do not work as indicated may take years to catch.

Some manufacturers are simply ruthless. The company executives know that their herbal concoctions do not work but their selfish greed supersedes any concern for the consumer who may be suffering from very real health conditions that prompt them to purchase the colon cleanser. As a consumer you can protect yourself by finding out who owns the company or who runs it. By running an Internet search through public record agencies, you will be able to find out if the owners of the company from whom you are considering ordering your colon cleanser have already been in business elsewhere or are currently involved in other ventures as well.

If you are trying to forego the danger of affiliate marketers you may find yourself contacting any one of the several clinics devoted to colon health which advertise their very own blends of colon cleansers on the ‘Net. While this approach does provide a bit more safety due to the fact that the company is rarely a fly by night operation, the danger you will most likely encounter here is found in the very belief system of the owner. For example, if a religious fanatic runs the company, she or he will be convinced that the colon cleanse being sold through the clinic or organization is directly tied in to the mind of the universe’s creator, and therefore any criticism of the product is akin to heresy. You will find that the rhetoric involved when speaking of studies that question the effectiveness of the product is usually consistent with that of religious organizations that believe themselves persecuted. In the same way, you will find that when you express your dissatisfaction with the product you suddenly are no longer treated like a valued customer but instead like an opponent who is only too willing to take down a reputable company.

The reasons for manufacturers to make and sell colon cleanses that simply do not work are plentiful and it is up to the consumer to be very careful and do a lot of research before purchasing any herbal supplement via the ‘Net. Having an independent third party, such as a physician, take a look at the claims made by the manufacturer as well as read the label of the actual colon cleanse prior to your beginning the regimen is a good way of ensuring that you will get what you pay for.

Can Pets Benefit From Colon Cleansings?

If you are a pet lover, you are bound to have fed your dog or cat a little treat here and there that might have adversely affected the animal’s regularity. Yet since pets usually are kept on a healthy diet simply by virtue of eating food specifically formulated for them, thoughts of kitty constipation and doggie diarrhea are rare, and such incidences usually point to another more serious health problem. While dogs seem to have little problems with constipation – possibly in part because they are like eating machines who will keep on eating until a bowel movement is produced – cats are more finicky. As a matter of fact, cats are highly susceptible to intestinal problems, but will only display symptoms once the problems have progressed to such an extent that veterinary intervention is necessary.

You will notice that your cat is not his own happy self when he chooses your Persian rug to defecate. Assuming that your pet thus far was a model of litter box conscientiousness and also that there is no other animal misbehaving on said rug, the mere fact that the animal will produce a bowel movement on the rug instead in its proper place is a warning sign to the pet owner. You may also notice him dragging his anus against the rug, trying to lift one leg a bit and basically do whatever he thinks might work to evacuate his bowels, yet with dismal results. The animal is finally letting you in on the secret that his health is not all it is supposed to be, and this should be taken serious. The wise pet owner will bag the feces and make a visit to the vet as soon as possible.

Most likely the veterinarian will elect to do a fecal float so as to rule out parasites and also run some blood tests to make sure that constipation is not related to diabetes. Additionally, a manual palpitation of the abdomen is done to ensure that no physical obstructions exist. If all these tests come back negative, the veterinarian will most likely perform a kitty colon cleansing which is done by an enema. If the fecal matter is extremely compacted, the vet may choose an anesthetic and utilize a small scraper to help evacuate some feces in the hopes that the rest will push through from behind.

Once the feline’s colon has been cleansed, your veterinarian will most likely suggest that you consider a special diet for your pet. If he is overweight, then your vet will be more urgent about this suggestion, and it is a good idea to take him up on it. A change in diet will most likely revolve around prescription diets that have measurably higher fiber content than other commercially available pet food. While the cost of this food is higher than what you would pay out at the grocery store, the amount of money you save in vet bills for the bi-monthly kitty enema is well worth the extra expense. Furthermore, you vet may also decide that your cat needs supplementation of a light laxative and several such substances may be purchased at the local big box pet supply stores.

Colon Cleanse, a Healthy Diet, And Exercise Make for a Healthy Life

Colon-cleanse, a healthy diet, and exercise make for a healthy life. This statement is so full of truth that little more needs to be said on the subject. Would that it were that simple! The reality shows that for a variety of reasons this simple truth has been perverted to a billion dollar industry that is the supplementation market. How often have you known those that are seeking health and fitness but not in a properly stocked pantry or inside a gym but from within a bottle of nutritional supplements? Nobody is exempted from this folly; doctors are just as guilty as star athletes and busy moms who would never, ever suggest to their growing teenage daughters to ingest the supplements that they themselves are taking with every meal.

Here is a step by step approach to achieving a healthy life the right way:
1.If you are suffering from abdominal pain, constipation, and severe flatulence, but fail to produce at least two bowel movement a day – even after eating a big meal – you need to use a colon cleanse. There are several ways to go about it. You can increase the intake of fiber and water in an effort to flush out your colon, but in most severe cases the use of a colon cleanse supplement is indicated. A mild laxative combined with fiber and adequate water will permit the colon to flush out a buildup of fecal matter that has hardened and attached itself to the inner lining of the intestines. Usually three to five days need to be devoted to this process.
2.As your colon is cleansed, you need to find a healthy diet that will work for you. Stay away from fads and the kinds of diets that incorporate food choices which do not appeal to you. In the same vein, stay away from those diets that are top heavy by relying heavily on one food group to the exclusion of others. Generally speaking, these diets are unhealthy and will negatively impact your heart health, liver, and kidneys. In some cases they will also lead to an unhealthy and potentially dangerous imbalance of electrolytes and the risk of stroke and heart attacks becomes very real.
3.The benefits derived from healthy exercise cannot be bottled and sold over the counter. Thus, stay away from any supplementation that seeks to build muscles or increase strength. Instead, build up your muscles gradually and consistently and what you might be lacking in visible bulk you will more than make up for in actual strength. Weight training, aerobics, and strength training are all wonderful exercises and it pays to find an exercise regimen that you will enjoy. Ease your way into it and do not overdo it!

It might be worthwhile to hire a personal trainer for a couple of sessions and review your dietary plan with a registered dietician to make sure you are not missing anything important. Last but not least, before using a colon cleanser make sure your doctor takes a look at the list of ingredients to be certain that it is healthy and gentle and will not leave you with undesirable side effects.