When it comes to having a healthy body, Colon Cleanse Products do not actually help us get healthier in any way, shape or form, according to the medical community; however, drug companies say they are really beneficial, listing a bunch of problems that occur due to unhealthy, poorly functional intestines – problems that can supposedly be solved by colon cleansers.
How do these products work?
Basically, the food goes in at the top of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), which is the stomach and intestine, and comes out through the other end. It is that simple. What marketers try to convince us of is that, over time, food that turns into waste containing toxins that build up over time prevents the intestine from working properly. It is believed that the cause of this is an unhealthy and overly processed diet, lack of exercise and stress, which leads to constipation, digestion problems and bloating. So, in theory, these products help flush out all the waste, making you feel lighter and healthier.
It is medically incorrect, because the colon is a continuously self-cleaning system; therefore, you do not need any extra medication to keep it healthy. Things do not just accumulate in your colon. You do not need special products, diets or enemas to get rid of waste and bacteria, because the body does it naturally on its own.
Some of the web sites promoting Colon Cleanse Products say that our unhealthy diet (which consists of processed, refined, high sugar, high fat and low fiber foods), over the years, has made us feel sick, overweight and lazy. This may be true, but taking pills is not the answer – changing your diet is. Instead of high fat, high sugar and low fiber foods, you should eat more fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and whole grains, drink more water, and your colon will be just fine. It is a natural cleansing process. Colon cleansing is unnecessary, unless you are being prepared for an examination, such as a colonoscopy.
Side effects
If you still decide to try these products, you should know there are some negative aspects that need to be taken in consideration:
- The bacteria in the large intestine are an essential component for the digestive health, and cleaning them out may be harmful.
- Most of the products use extracts of natural herbs and plant-based fibers, so these may interact with prescription medication possibly leading to addiction.
- The use of certain types of laxatives found in such supplements may lead to short-term health problems, like dehydration, and long-term issues, like perforation of the bowel and electrolyte imbalances that can be fatal.
Having said this, I think it is very important to think it through before rushing to buy such supplements. A better decision would be to discuss the use of any kind of Colon Cleanse Products with a medical doctor to make sure there isn’t anything in your health history that may put you at risk.