Colon Cleansing- The Good and the Bad

The colon, a part of the digestive system, is responsible for extracting water, salt, vitamins and nutrients from indigestible food matter, processing food that was not digested in the small intestine, and eliminating solid waste from the body. However, when it does not function properly, it begins to absorb toxins instead of eliminating them, thereby causing problems like headaches, bloating, constipation, gas, weight gain, low energy, fatigue, and chronic illnesses.

There are two sides to every story and cleansing the colon has two sides to it as well. Let us look at the good and the bad of going in for colon cleansing.

The Good

As the colon is cleansed, it pushes undigested waste through your system, clearing the way for good nutrient absorption. If waste remains in the body for too long, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and illness.

Releasing the toxins from your body is rejuvenating because it refocuses the energy usually used for forcing waste through your intestines to other parts of your body.

A colon that has been cleansed allows only water, vitamins and nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

By releasing stagnant body waste, you reduce the causes and the risk of polyps, cysts and cancerous growths in your colon and gastrointestinal tract.

Colon cleansing has the potential to aid weight loss; some people claim to have lost up to 20 pounds over the course of a month.

The Bad

Colon cleansing may increase your risk of infections from pathological microorganisms caused by using unclean equipment. It is important to use sterile equipment that has not been previously used by someone else to minimize your risks from spread of infections of bacteria, viruses, yeasts and parasites.

Colon cleanses using unfiltered tap water may be dangerous to your health. Use of unfiltered tap water may increase your risk of chromium-6, a cancer-causing chemical. Colon cleansing with laxatives, herbal formulations or enemas might increase a person’s risk of becoming dehydrated if the individual does not drink enough fluids.

If colon cleansers are not of reliable quality their use can badly influence your digestive system. You may suffer from diarrhoea which can enhance your trouble instead of giving you any relief. Improper use colon cleansers may also result in blooded stool which can distress you not only physical but psychologically too.

Therefore after looking at both the sides, it necessary that we consult a doctor and take advice from an expert if we should go for a colon cleansing, whether a colon cleanse is good for the body or not.

There are a lot of claims and false advertising regarding which is the best method to cleanse the colon but at the end of the day, it is your body and one is talking about a very sensitive part of the body, therefore before taking any decision it is necessary that one does not go by what the claims are and what the side effects will be rather we should understand what the doctor advises and use our own discretion.