Ewwww... OK I know it's kind of a nasty subject. The theory is if you flush out your intestines it will aid in nutrient absorption, etc, etc because you aren't blocked up. The whole thing seems a little kooky to me, but then I hear about people losing 10 lbs from the cleansing and I can't help but think a) it's disgusting to have 10 lbs of extra you-know-what inside of you and b) hey, 10 lbs! Someone could win the 4 week challenge over a weekend, hahahaha.


Seriously though, has anyone tried this and/or what are your opinions? Obviously the best way to cleanse that thing is with a diet high in fiber, but what if you've got some stuck bits? hahaha I keep thinking about Beverly Hills Cops where the partner says something about having 7 lbs of undigested red meat in the colon...

I haven't done to much research on it, but there were some people talking about it at work today so my curiosity has the best of me.

I visited a colon cleansing place near Palm springs. I was just with a curious friend checking it out for later. I think that ultimately it is a pretty invasive, unnatural way to go about "cleaning out your system". I think you are on to something that fiber, juices, etc. are better.

Also, I had to be completely "clean" for a colonostopy (spelling?) The minute you start to eat again the weight comes back - it is not a weight loss tool. I think people are drawn to it in the current fad of "detoxification" which we can do by not eating "toxifiying" foods to begin with.

I agree with you though that it is an interesting concept and we are being hit by lots of advertising for it in So. Calif. right now. I don't think it is cheap!

Another option to consider, well not an option, but thought to keep in mind is that the body will naturally clean itself on all levels, even the cellular (molecular) level.

Unfortunately, we ingest such contaminated and harmful chemicals in our foods, supplements and such that our bodies cannot be free of toxins.

I have done a clense before, it had no good effect on me, just put me out of work for five days

Consider creating a well-balanced diet of nutritional foods and like Suesue says, it is NOT an option to weight loss. You can sit in a sauna for two hours and lose 10 lbs, but your body will recoup.

The idea is to create a motabolism that burns fat naturally and keeping your digestive system healthy by eating well and drinking lots of water and juices. When this is accomplished, the liver, gaul bladder and intestines do their job.

Hope this helps.

James Tippins
"Life is essential to living."

I can say from experience that colon cleansing is a worthwhile endeavor. Especially if you consume the normal American's diet. The purpose is to flush out the buildup of waste that accumulates on the walls of your lower intestine and colon. This plaque builds up over time due to the inability of your digestive system to break down certain foods and synthetics. By performing a cleanse (or a series of them over time) you pull that build up off of the lining and allow your intestines/colon to come into contact with your foods once again. When you haven't cleansed, the buildup of waste against the lining is the only thing that it comes into contact with, and after a while will begin absorbing the rotting material, causing problems that can range from acne to allergies, sickness, etc. Another risk is that it can begin to work its way between the layers of lining in your intestine and colon, causing lesions and worse.

The benefits come into play when the walls of your intestines/colon are once again able to absorb the nutrients, minerals, etc. If you begin a healthy diet of natural foods, staying away from processed foods and sugars, you will notice a difference in your energy levels, mood, and multiple other facets of your well being after performing a cleanse.

Of course, once you've cleansed you'll want to maintain a healthy natural diet, or you'll end up back in the same place.

If you'd like to try it, just to see exactly what it is that comes out and how you feel afterward, I would recommend a colon cleansing kit from blessedherbs.com or one similar. It's done completely on your own (so no water/coffee enema in an office) and easy to follow.

Hope that helps you out...

I just did a quick google search and saw PICTURES of what came out. OH MY! This is not for the faint at heart:
http://www.drnatura.com/picture_gallery.html

I think I'm going to throw up.

I'm having a hard time believing something like that could be sitting inside me. Worse, I can't believe those people fished that crap out of the toilet and took pictures of it! LOL

ive asked my doc about colon cleansing and he said it is very dangerous. your body is supposed to cleanse itself naturally and you dont need to have this done. you can perferate (sp) your rectum when the tube is inserted if it is not inserted correctly and if the amt of water that goes into your colon is not natural and is dangerous. it is like taking an enema but on a very large scale. you can become very dehydrated and lose electrolytes thats why they try to supposedly sell you all of these vitamins after and tell you to have a ton of water and other concoctions and make you try to buy vitamins after to make sure you get back the vitamins you depleted. if you want to do this, talk to your doc first and get his/her opinion.

The kind my coworkers were talking about was the kind you did at home by taking oral supplements. I'm guessing those are more like laxatives?

"Of course, once you've cleansed you'll want to maintain a healthy natural diet, or you'll end up back in the same place. "

This is the key, well said... , I would definitely consult my physician before anything. I do know that a change in diet will begin cleanse your body of toxins immediately and at a slower rate overall.

This seems to be better for your digestive system.

The weight loss associated with most, if not all, of those "10 day cleanses" (lemonade diet, etc.) are PURELY water loss; almost everyone I talked to that has done it said that most, if not all, of the weight came back almost immediately after the cleanse. Plus, your calorie intake drops so low you run the risk of putting your body in a fasting state where it will want to store as much fat and sacrifice as much lean muscle as possible, plus, with the temporary nature of the associated weight loss, it all seems counter intuitive if what you want is to lean up and stay lean (ie. lifestyle change).

As far as the other benefits of a cleanse; I can't really speak to those. My friends who have done it claimed to have more energy and to just feel better, but I've accomplished the same results in less time by adjusting my diet to be healthier and adding the gym back into my life; I don't know if the results "stack" with each other, but I'm guessing that I would find it hard to make it to the gym if I were on a cleanse.

MAN. I did NOT need to see that photo.

Glad it was on an empty belly.

This makes me even more glad for having the relatively clean diet I do. And for having such a pardon the pun, kick-ass elimination system.

Yeah, Minu, I was disgusted, but couldn't look away! I don't know what I would do if I found that in the toilet! Those people are picking them up with kitchen tongs and putting them on colanders; I only hope they throw that stuff away afterwards!

OK, so the weight loss is temporary. Once your bowels start filling back up, the weight creeps back up. I've read about some that don't require any weird kind of dieting - you just mix something up and drink it every day. Some programs are months long, and some are just 7 days. I would definitely never get an enema style one - that one does seem a bit extreme. The stuff you mix up seems to be advertised as a completely natural mix of herbs, etc.

As of now I am eating very healthily - more or less like a rabbit with lots and lots of leafy vegetables and some fruit, lean protein and good fats. As I said earlier, that's probably the best way to cleanse yourself. I've noticed a change in my bathroom habits, probably for the better (a bit softer), but NOTHING like that stuff is coming out. I've eaten very poorly for the last four years or so; who knows what's inside. However, I don't have any weird ailments that I know of. Of course I feel better once I'm eating right, but as Cliff said, I wonder if I could feel even better.

I can't get those pictures out of my head!

O.K. I am a weak.... I am not going to look at those pictures!!! Thanks ladies for the heads up!

Stuff just doesn't sit in your bowels for ages on end. It does naturally take care of itself. From David L. Diehl, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at New York University, and chief of gastrointestinal endoscopy at Bellevue Hospital Center:



I worked in an office that did frequent flex sigs (another colon viewing device), and even the worst of people had very nice looking colons. If you want natural and healthy, clean your colon the natural, healthy way: fiber, water, healthful diet.

Sorry if I have too much attitude, but this kind of stuff makes me crazy. There is no science to back up colon cleansing and TONS of stuff to back up letting your body do it naturally.

Cindy N is dead on.

Just to reiterate, medically, there is no such thing as "plaque" or other badness that accumulates in your intestines. Your intestines and colon are smooth, muscular tubes, and they are one-way only with no detours or alleys (except for millimeter sized outpouchings in people with diverticulosis). I don't know where those pictures came from, but realize they're trying to sell a product.

I, too, recommend against what is basically an extended colonoscopy prep- losing that much weight through water/diarrhea losses messes with your electrolytes and puts you through unneeded agony.

The simple, proven way to promote colon health is eating in excess of 25 grams of fiber (and drinking plenty of water!) on a daily basis. Unlike advertising promotions, there is scientific evidence that this helps avoid diverticulosis and probably colon cancer as well.

I started doing the metamucil thing every week twice a week. Seems to be fine & keep things normal. All this protein sometimes clogs the pipes.

These colon cleansing supplements includes a natural clay that absorbs water and expands taking on a silly-putty like consistency. That's what the blobs are in those photos. It's pure snake oil. It's like giving someone Ipecac and telling them that if they've got toxins, the Ipecac will make them vomit the toxins out of their system. It's complete B.S. and I'd love to go 10 rounds with the people that sell this false hope to other. The lowest scum of the earth. Eaten alive by diseased rats is too good for them.

clear?

CLEAR! Thanks for all the input. As soon as Cindy started saying that stuff, I was thinking, hmmm I wonder if it's the "herbal mix" that creates the nasty stuff in the pictures. That makes perfect sense.

No colon cleansing for me!