When most of us think of our health, it means working out, eating better and regular visits to the doctor. While this is recommended, we should also take time to think about our digestive system. After all, if our digestive health takes a dive, so does everything else. So how do we look after this so important but highly overlooked part of ourselves?

Well, a colon cleanse is one way to not only reboot the gastrointestinal system but also get more out of your diet and flush your system of any mucus, toxins and any residual waste.

natural colon cleanse

natural colon cleanse

Intestinal Cleanse: How to Cleanse Your Colon Safely

However, just like with any health measure, natural colon cleansing helps you ensure that you are not introducing any contaminants into your system. Today we will look at 8 natural colon cleansing tricks that you can turn to for a boost to your digestive system.

 

Water

Water, the very essence of life can work wonders for your colon and entire digestive system. To start with drinking lots of water not only rehydrates you but it also helps to regulate bowel movements, flush out any built-up waste and toxins.

When you are dehydrated your body tries to draw as much water from food as possible. This results in stool that is not only dry and hard but is difficult to pass and irregular bowel movements. It is for this reason that you should drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.

Increase water intake if you are engaging in strenuous physical activity or during the summer. A study carried out in 2013 in Jordan showed that drinking water not only reduces the chances of chronic constipation but also colorectal cancer.

 

Increase dietary fibre intake

At some point along the way, you have been made to take spinach, cabbage or some other vegetables. While vegies have multitudes of beneficial nutrients, they are also loaded with fiber.

Fiber softens stool, and aids in peristalsis. This attributes make it easy for the colon to move waste along and eventually expel it. Fiber also makes stool bulky and prompts the colon to expel it quickly.

Major sources of fiber include vegetables, fruits and whole grains such as brown rice, flaxseed, millet, corn and oats. To ensure you get enough fibre, take atleast one vegetable and whole grain in every meal.

 

Tea and Coffee

Before you discredit coffee and tea as good colon cleanses look at some of the chemicals contained in these mundane beverages. First coffee is loaded with caffeine which is a stimulant.

This compound which keeps you studying or working long after the sun has set also stimulates your bowel muscles. This aids and hastens peristalsis and bowel movement.

Tea especially green tea is rich in catechism which are polyphenols that with antioxidant properties. These substances heal and cleanse the colon of toxins and harmful microbiota. To increase the colon cleansing abilities of tea and coffee take a cup in the morning before breakfast.

 

Lemon Juice

Drinking lemon juice on a regular basis has been known to boost overall digestive health. Compounds in the lemon juice such as vitamin C cleanse the colon and rid it of any toxins.

Lemon juice is also loaded with antioxidants which combat free radicals, reverse oxidative damage in the gut and heal the whole system.

For maximum effectiveness use freshly pressed lemon juice and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach. This way the juice can interact with the whole system without any food barrier.

 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is slowly gaining popularity due to its many health benefits. It has antioxidant properties that fight free radicals and reduce the damage they wreck in the colon.

Apple cider vinegar has acetobacter, a bacterium that promotes digestion and also helps the whole system to operate effectively. The acidic nature of this vinegar increases the stomachs acidity helping in digestion and toxin eradication.

 

Yoghurt

Yoghurt like many fermented foods is rich in probiotics. These are beneficial bacteria that aid in digestion and help fight harmful microorganisms that damage the colon and cause diseases.

They also help in the movement of food in the colon and combat bloating and constipation. Incorporating yoghurt in your diet ensures the repopulates your colon with these probiotics

 

Resistant Starches

Resistant starches are a class of carbohydrates that are harder to digest than the rest. This means that most of these starches are not fully digested and end up being passed out in stool. They, therefore, play a huge role by bulking up the stool ensuring you have regular bowel movements.

Research has also shown that during digestion they release beneficial compounds that help to

-Improve macronutrient regulation

-Prevent colon cancer

-Control diabetes

-Prevent or control obesity

Foods rich in resistant starches include sweet potatoes, sugar beets, sweet corn, green bananas and yams.

 

Herbal Arc Colon Cleanse

You can also turn to natural supplements made using herbs to cleanse your colon and digestive system. The Herbal Arc aloe and mucus cleanser (The Colon Cleanse) is a specially formulated using naturally sourced herbs that not only rid your whole system of toxins but also promotes healthy intestinal flora, clears parasites and stimulates muscle movements.

 

The above tricks will not help alleviate problems brought about by the build-up of waste and toxins in your colon. The best thing is that you can use most of them in tandem to get your colon operating at its optimum.