Get Over Your Ego & Clean Your Colon!

Excretion. Defection. Releasing. Whatever you wanna call it. Its something that we all must do, yet it for some reason has always been a very taboo subject. Who can remember the childhood taunting that accompanied having to go #2 and being discovered by others? It is so ironic that something so completely natural and necessary to regulate our metabolism, clean our bodies, and literally “lighten our load” is such an avoided and even dreaded topic by many people.

In the United States alone 60 to 70 million people are affected by some type of digestive disease. Among the most commonly diagnosed are chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticular disease. Digestive diseases are responsible for over 13.5 million hospitalizations, and cost the United States 97.8 billion on medical care and $44 billion on indirect costs ($141.8 billion annually). Beyond digestive conditions, there are numerous other diseases begin with too much waste building up in the colon, the bodies’ sewage system.

I’ve often  heard people saying they are avoiding watery food, or cleansing meals because it will make them go to the bathroom. Many people have this irrational fear of having to defecate while in public! My response to that is;  would you rather carry it around in your body to clog up your colon, stink up your insides, and create a toxic  state (which WILL affect your mental state)? The main complaint that I hear when it comes to colon cleansing is that many can not accept the idea of an enema, colonic, or any sort of contraption of which involves the rectum and insertion.  While it may require some re-wiring of the brain and bravery in your efforts to be consistent, colon cleansing can have dramatically rewarding benefits. You’ll be surprised at some of the waste that you have been carrying around, sometimes for years. If you want to maintain optimal health,  remain disease-free, lighten your load, and feel more at peace, it’s important for you to move past  the ego and begin to harness the power of regular colon cleansing. ~XoXo Nicola, signing in for Raw Girl

Some benefits of regular colon cleansing include:

• More efficient digestion
• Clearer Skin
• Slimmer waist
• Flush out parasites
• Boosts your  energy
• Helps to regulate your sleep
• Literally feel “lighter”
• Increases your mental sharpness
• Avoid long-term chronic disease (health begins and ends in the colon)

For 10 Methods To Keep Your Colon Clean, check out this past post: http://rawgirltoxicworld.com/2011/04/07/1-health-issue-in-america-maintaining-a-healthy-colon/

#1 Health Issue in America: Maintaining a Healthy Colon

If every person in this country was tested nutritionally and had their colons cleaned out, 95% of our medical profession would have to seek other means of employment.” The Healthview Newsletter

If you didn’t know, colon health is most likely the number one wellness issue in America today, period. The majority of diseases begin with the accumulation of waste in our colon or our “bodies’ sewage system.” How often do we see men and women with distended bellies nowadays? I cringe because I know that those distended bellies, are full of waste that will cause disease. Checking out someone’s waistline, can be a general indicator of their overall health. Even if your tummy isn’t protruding, your body still may be storing waste from junk foods in other ways that are unhealthy and could lead to long-term disease. Why wait until then? Beyond dis-ease if everyone wasn’t so full of #$%#, literally, the world would be a more peaceful, civil place. When your colon is backed up you can get sick of course, but also, all that waste DOES affect your emotions and can make you more a more agressive, reactive, and emotionally volatile person.

So what can you do to clean your colon? You can always take up the habit of colonics and enemas, but for those who get squeamish at the thought of those options, there are a variety of foods and herbs that can help you keep your colon clean. When I recently interviewed Bernando LaPallo, an 109 year old raw foodist on my radio show and asked him how he keeps his colon clean, his response was simple: eat the right foods–fruits and veggies–and your colon will stay clean. Below is a list of 10 ideas for cleaning house and maintaining a healthy colon longterm. -XoXo Raw Girl

10 Ways to Clean House & Keep Your Colon Healthy

1. Pysillium Husk . This fiber acts like a brush and helps to scrub waste out of the colon and absorb toxins in the bowels. It is actually the husk of the see of the Plantain! ( I thought  that was groovy) When taken, one must take care to drink a lot of water, as it can cause digestive problems or dehydration if liquids are neglected. The husk swells when it comes in contact with water or liquids and forms a gelatin-like mass in the colon. Psyllium has been used to treat constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. You can incorporate this weekly  by adding it to juice, water, etc.
2. Flaxseed is similar to psyllium husk as it absorbs water and expands as it moves through the colon, removing waste and toxins. You can sprinkle ground flaxseed on smoothies, yogurt, fruit and other meals to get that daily dose of fiber.
3. Bentonite Clay. When used internally (make sure you buy the kind that can be taken internally) bentonite will clean out your colon and kill parasites (parasites cannot reproduce in the presence of clay).
4. Fiber rich foods such as: kale and other leafy greens, blackberries, prunes or prune juice can be regularly incorporated in your diet to keep you regular. Also making sure to eat a large variety of fruits and veggies will also give you the fiber you need.
5. Salt Water Flushes. I never had the stomach for this–for some reason salt water flushes make me hurl, but some people love doing salt water flushes and they do work really well.
6. Herbs. Senna Leaf (which is a very common ingredient in laxatives) can be taken in many forms including pills and tea. I learned from a friend who performs colonoscopies that intake of Senna is okay in moderation, but overuse actually will stain your colon.
7. Enemas or Colonics. Yes many people dread the thought, but there really isn’t anything to be scared of. You’ve got nothing to lose but a whole lot of waste! Whenever considering a colonic, always make sure it is not machine based. The procedure should be gravity method (meaning the water flows naturally and not pushed into the colon by a machine), and if you think you may have any colon issues, check with a doctor to ensure that you have no polyps or growths on the colon before you undergo a colonic. The difference between colonics and enemas? Colonics are a gallon or more of water, enemas can be self-administered at home with smaller amounts of water.
8. Fasting. Taking a break from food altogether allows your digestive system time to rest and leaves room for your body to get rid of old waste. Whether you fast on green juices or water, eventually, your body will rid itself of unwanted toxins.
9. Parasite Cleanse. Of  course you know I had to mention this! Parasites actually aggravate waste problems in your colon because they can make you crave certain foods in excess. In essence, parasites thrive in a murky intestinal environment, so if you get rid of the waste, you’ll be one step closer to getting rid of the buggers.
10. Probiotics & Fermented Foods.  Once you clean your colon, it’s important to keep the good bacteria in your gut and take a probiotic supplement (acidophilus) and/or regularly incorporate fermented foods such as: miso, yogurt (if you’re a vegetarian or meat-eater), sauerkraut etc.