Colon Cleansing - good or bad?

It is commonly accepted by advocates that colon cleansing helps to eliminate toxins from the intestinal tracts. In fact, they believe that this will help with many health problems, for example: arthritis, allergies and asthma.

Colon cleansing is believed to promote healthy intestinal bacteria, boosting your energy and enhancing your immune system.

Critics, on the other hand, say that colon cleansing is unnecessary and could even be harmful to the body. Doctors almost never recommend colon cleansing for detoxification, though they do prescribe it as preparation for medical examinations like colonoscopy. The reasons are simple enough to understand: Our digestive system and bowel naturally eliminate waste material and bacteria — your body doesn't need enemas or special diets or pills to do this.

Well, there is little scientific evidence to clearly support or refute claims for or against colon cleansing.

One very real concern with colon cleansing is the risk of dehydration. Also, taking the medication for colon cleansing might be risky for people with kidney or heart diseases.

If you still want to do colon cleansing, be sure to take these simple precautions:

• Ask your doctor first, especially if you take any medications or have any health problems.
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  Make sure your colon-cleansing practitioner uses disposable equipment that hasn't been previously used.
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  Get a list of specific herbal ingredients and dosage in colon-cleansing product — some herbal supplements can cause health problems.
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  Beware of broad Ask your doctor first, especially if you take any medications or have any health problems.

If you are doing colon cleansing because of constipation, consider trying these steps first to relieve constipation:

* Drink plenty of fluids, including water
* Eat a diet rich in fiber
* Get regular exercise