You know that cake you ate three months ago at your cousin’s birthday party? And that pizza you devoured last week at the after work function? If I told you that you were still carrying pieces of those meals around with you in your colon and that they were causing you to gain weight, would you want to get rid of them?

Our bodies have a natural in-built detoxifying system, but with our continuous intake of toxins, the input rate ultimately exceeds the discarding capabilities of our bodies. Once the body has accumulated a considerable amount of toxins, the system will start showing symptoms such as skin ailments and irritation, constipation, stomach upset, drowsiness, bloating, etc. Understanding the natural detoxifying system of your body helps you to eliminate these toxins at much faster rate. The natural detoxification of our bodies is done through the services of organs such as the liver, lungs, kidneys, colon and skin.

The colon is the end part of the human gastrointestinal tract, which begins at the mouth and ends at the anus. The colon acts as the body’s sewage system. Absorbing water and other nutrients is the colon’s main function apart from the formation and elimination of feces. Any substances that are not required by our bodies and are therefore waste toxins, are eliminated in the form of feces. If this system malfunctions and does not excrete feces, then it can become blocked and force toxins back into our bodies. Constipation is one of the major symptoms of the colon not functioning adequately.

According to colon cleanse manufacturers and marketers, this propensity of your body to hold onto the unhealthy foods you eat could be causing you to gain weight. The logic behind this is that our bodies were not created to eat junk food. We were created with the ability to eat fruit, vegetables, nuts and meat. This means that our digestive systems have yet to evolve and create enzymes that can completely digest all the preservatives and unnatural ingredients in our daily food choices. Without the proper enzymes to completely break them down, these remnants of old food deposit themselves along the walls of the colon, untouched by our digestive system – possibly forever.

These lingering food and preservative particles allow toxins and debris to stick to them and create an unhealthy environment in the colon. This also creates the perfect environment for a breeding ground of bad bacteria which causes plaque to build up around the toxic residue. This plaque is a thick mucus lining that coats our intestines and causes an unsightly bloat. Alternative medicine practitioners believe that this plaque lining our intestines prevents our digestive system from ever being rid of the toxic leftovers that caused the plaque to begin with. They think that this results in permanent bloating and weight gain. Natural health practitioners have introduced many methods to eradicate this mucus plaque. The remedies are sold over the counter or administered in spas.

Most over the counter colon cleansers work by combining herbs that promote digestion with large doses of fiber. The herbs fight the plaque and the fiber encourages your body to cleanse itself. Generally, it is recommended that those who enter a colon cleansing regimen drink 8-10 glasses of water per day and consume soups, raw egg yolks, nuts and citrus. Cleanses can last anywhere from one week to one month.

Colon cleanses administered in spas are a completely different experience. They are called “Hydrotherapy” or colonics and they are done without pills or fiber. At a spa, you’ll have warm, filtered water gently and rhythmically inserted into your colon through a tube. Once your colon is full of water, a gentle massage of your abdomen is done which helps guide the water through your intestines and break up the plaque lining the intestinal walls. The plaque, mucus and old food then come out the tube and your colon is cleansed. The entire procedure takes an hour and a half. After a colon cleanse, you may find you have abdominal cramping and gas. Be sure to consult a physician if the side effects are severe.

The general medical community has been dismissive of the plaque build up belief of natural medicine practitioners. Their stance is that the plaque buildup is normal and necessary, and colon cleanses are damaging and do not deliver on promises of removing toxins and 28 year old macaroni and cheese. They also are concerned over the possible imbalances experienced after a loss of good bacteria.

If you decide to get an over the counter colon cleanse product or a colonic, it is important to do so as safely as possible. Be sure to meet with your physician prior to beginning the cleanse and discuss with him/her the health benefits and any possible side effects.

Best colon cleanser
The Ultimate Colon Cleanse by Organica Research LLC is designed to remove excess weight, parasite infection, frequent colds, constipation, a protruding belly, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bad breath, hemorrhoids, and yeast infections. This unique formula not only cleans your colon, it also keeps all waste matter moving freely, efficiently and rapidly out of your body. The cleanse system breaks down and gets rid of the toxic waste matter which may have been stuck in the folds and wrinkles of your digestive system for years and years. The Ultimate Colon Cleanser system includes three specially formulated components: Internal Cleansing Fiber, Anti-Parasite Support, and Nighttime Cleansing Tea. They work in harmony with your body to achieve quick and safe results.