Say No To Cuts

There is a lot of misinformation, myths and out right lies when it comes to colon cleansing. Many proponents of colon detox subscribe to the “auto-intoxication” theory that has its origins in the natural medicine of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. The idea is that if food doesn’t pass quickly enough through the bowels it causes toxins and other nasty elements to build up where they are recycled back into the circulatory system to cause problems with other body organs.

Unfortunately, there is no modern scientific evidence to support this theory and it has fallen out of favor with most medical doctors these days. However, some companies continue to market their colon cleansing products  based on this theory, despite any evidence to support their claims.

Does this mean that colon cleansing doesn’t have its benefits? It depends on what you are after. Most colon cleansers are essentially laxatives which cause you to go to the toilet. This makes them a potentially good choice for those healthy people who are suffering from occasional constipation. Beyond that, any benefits that you gain from a colon cleanse will be subjective and vary from person to person. Some will get tremendous results and feel terrific; others will find side effects like bloating, gas and emergency exists to the toilet too much or simply feel worse overall.

Colon cleansing can help some people lose weight. But there is nothing magical about it. A bout of diarrhea will make you lose weight over a day or so due to – among other things – the increase in bowel movements and the loss of fluids. A cleanse will work in a similar way.

A colon cleanser should never be used long term. This will lead to all sorts of health problems and potential dependency on the product. Instead it should be used in short bursts with a significant gap of time in between.

The purpose of this post isn’t to criticize the actual process of colon cleansing. It has its benefits and I do a colon detox several times a year as it find it makes me feel better, reduces bloating and kick starts my metabolism. However, I know of others who absolutely hate it. Anyone thinking of taking this path should avoid the fantastical marketing claims and arms themselves with down-to-earth, scientific information so that they can make an informed decision. They should listen to the other side of the coin, so to speak, and make up their own mind. If you are relying on a marketer or a company for non-biased information then you are potentially letting yourself get misled.

In short: do your own research and make a decision based on facts.

Here are some good articles to help you get started: MayoClinic, WebMd and Wikipedia.