Monday, July 28, 2008

Does colon cleansing really work?

By Alexa Shepherd

Many of us are guilty of leading sedentary lives and cultivating unsavoury lifestyle habits like overeating, consuming copious amounts of junk food, indulging in smoking and drinking. This can result in a poorly functioning digestive system and the need for colon cleansing. Often, people refuse to undertake this medical procedure until they get assurance that is colon cleansing really safe and effective.

You may know the colon as the large intestine or as the bowel. They essentially refer to the same body part. This 1 to 2 meter long part acts to help the body get rid of the undigested waste left over from the food we ingest. After all the necessary nutrients have been taken into our bodies, what remains passes through the colon to be eradicated. These remains can be water, undigested fiber or a type of bacteria called probiotics, just to name a few.

Unfortunately, lifestyle and a poor diet can weaken the function of the colon. Digestive problems can stem from stress, a high intake of saturated fats, sugars and excessive salt, lack of fiber, lack of fluids, lack of exercise, too much alcohol and smoking, amongst many other factors. These create an unfriendly environment for the bacteria needed for a colon to function normally. There enters a process called colon cleansing.

Colon cleansing aims to revive a colon that is not functioning properly. When a colon does not work as well as it should, waste materials are processed more slowly than normal. Much of the food we consume these days contain toxins and when these pass through our digestive system slowly, the more of these toxins are absorbed into our blood stream. These extra toxins may overwhelm and eventually cause damage to our kidneys, liver as well as other areas of the body.

Unwanted pollutants that are found in our digestive systems must be gotten rid of by colon detox in order to help restore the colon to its normal, healthy functioning state. Many, however, are concerned that is colon cleansing really safe and effective? While any form of medical treatment will have both their advantages and disadvantages, it is important to weigh these out before you make the decision to detox in this way.

Evaluate your lifestyle and your health as you find out more about colon cleansing procedures. You will undoubtedly find a range of options available to you, from the clinical approach to the cheaper alternative - home remedies.

It is important to treat a poorly functioning colon because if it is allowed to remain untreated, many other serious clinical conditions can develop. That is why it is important, when seeking for colon cleansing treatment, to find a professional therapist who is up-to-date with the latest knowledge, information and machines to carry out the procedure for you.

While most colon therapists will answer the question, is colon cleansing really safe and effective with a resounding YES, overusing this approach can cause a negative effect on the health of your bowel movements. In additional, your colon area could be damaged if the enema used in your procedure is applied incorrectly. The exposure to harmful bacteria and viruses can also pose a real threat.

While many undertake cleansing their colon to treat a serious condition, there are others who look to colon cleansing as a solution to weight loss because this procedure does tend to remove excess body weight. Whatever your reason for going through this detoxification process, you must ask, is colon cleansing really safe and effective, and be comfortable with your final decision.

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