Once the liquid from an enema is inside you, it can take about one to five minutes for you to have the urge to make a bowel movement. Colonic irrigation uses more water up to 60 liters and can last anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes.

Some colon cleanses can involve taking laxatives, teas, powder, or capsules by mouth. These products can contain probiotics, enzymes, and herbs like:. However, none of these products has been approved by the FDA for colon cleansing.

There are many purported potential benefits of colon cleansing. Most of these benefits are supported by anecdotal claims and are not supported by scientific evidence. Some of the potential benefits of a colon cleanse include:. There is no scientific evidence that can strongly support any of these health benefits.

There is some research that suggests colon cleanses can have positive effects on IBS symptoms and and that they could be used in preparation for colonoscopies. The studies, however, had a low number of participants, making it difficult to reach reliable conclusions.

More studies need to be done to prove the potential health benefits of colon cleanses. Colon cleansing procedures can have side effects ranging from mild to serious. Some of the more common mild risks of colon cleanses include:.

Depending on the type of liquid used, it's also possible to experience burns and inflammation. Colon cleanses that use hot water or coffee that is not room temperature brings the risk of burning. These burns cause inflammation to the walls of the rectum.

In some cases, the burns cause the rectum to narrow so much that surgery is required for treatment. Using equipment that controls the liquid's temperature might reduce this risk.

A colon cleanse might also cause electrolyte depletion. This is because absorbing large amounts of water through the rectum can lead to low blood sodium or potassium. The inappropriate use of oral laxatives can also cause electrolyte imbalances.

Dehydration is also a risk. You may also develop an infection from a colon cleanse. This is usually caused by bacteria from the gut inadvertently invading the blood or other nearby tissues through the large amounts of water used.

One of the most serious risks is the tearing or the perforation the making of a hole of the bowel walls. Another serious side effect can be renal failure.

Some herbal colon cleanses have been linked to aplastic anemia when your bone marrow can't make enough new blood cells and liver toxicity. People with a history of gastrointestinal disease, colon surgery, hemorrhoids , kidney disease, and heart disease are more susceptible to the more serious side effects of colon cleansing.

Editor's Note: The FDA and Federal Trade Commission have tried to punish companies that sell medical devices for claiming that the devices can also work for colon cleansing. A colon cleanse is a procedure in which your colon is flushed out and cleared of its contents.

Many people believe colon cleansing has impactful health benefits like improving your immune system, reducing blood pressure, improving digestive health, among many others. However, these benefits are anecdotal.

Currently, there is no strong scientific evidence that can support these claims. While colon cleanses have some purported benefits, they also carry some risks.

Potential risks and side effects of a colon cleanse include infection, burns, dehydration, electrolyte depletion, and perforations. Some individuals may be at higher risk of experiencing these side effects. If you or a loved one are interested in getting a colon cleanse, talk to your healthcare provider about your options and to determine if a colon cleanse is right for you.

National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health. Adverse effects after medical, commercial, or self-administered colon cleansing procedures. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Laxative overdose. Polyethylene glycol-electrolyte solution PEG-ES.

Food and Drug Administration. Adult women should get g of fiber daily, and adult men should get g daily. So, if products marketed as colon cleansers are often glorified laxatives and low-dose fiber supplements, what should you take instead?

Well, that depends a lot on the reason you sought out a colon cleanser in the first place. At first glance, it may seem that probiotics are the way to go. But dysbiosis — a serious imbalance of the gut microbiome — is far less common than a basic fiber deficiency.

As an essential component of a balanced diet, dietary fiber has been shown to regulate bowel movements, prevent constipation, and contribute to heart health. As an alternative to colon cleansers, one of the key advantages of fiber supplements lies in their ability to support regular bowel movements by adding bulk to stool, facilitating its movement through the digestive tract.

To be fair, many products marketed as colon cleansers are just fiber supplements. Take Colon Broom, for example. And some so-called cleansers include prebiotic fibers like fructooligosaccharides FOS and xylooligosaccharides XOS , which can cause bowel distress in some — especially those sensitive to FODMAPs.

As you can see, Garden of Life provides you with the most fiber overall and a significant dose of insoluble fiber, which is more efficient than soluble fiber at pushing material through your colon.

It also contains million CFU of Bacillus coagulans MTCC , a probiotic strain that has been shown to relieve gas and bloating in adults.

Specifically, it uses 8 billion CFU of Bifidobacterium Lactis Bl This strain has performed well in several studies looking at its role in treating intestinal distress associated with IBD and IBS.

This is one of the reasons we recommend powdered fiber supplements over capsules. In the end, we prefer a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber, but if it means the difference for you between drinking it and not drinking it, a soluble-only option is fine.

Cook as you would any other pancakes over medium-low heat. Probiotics have surged in popularity in recent years, offering potential benefits well beyond the confines of the gastrointestinal tract.

These live microorganisms, commonly bacteria but also including yeasts and fungi, help maintain a delicate balance in the gut microbiome. But for those who sought out colon cleansers as a way to address more than just digestion, they can prove superior to fiber.

Colon cleansers claim they offer myriad benefits, but most of those claims lack scientific merit. And probiotics actually have scientific support that they can provide many of those benefits, including: 4.

Among off-the-shelf probiotics, few offer as thorough a blend of bacterial strains from high-quality sources as Seed with its DS It provides nearly 54 billion active fluorescent units AFU, as opposed to colony forming units [CFU], which can be inactive and ineffective.

Now, the testing mentioned above is performed in-house, rather than relying on a third party, which we typically prefer. For a more curated experience, you can have your microbiome tested by several companies that can then custom-tailor probiotics for your particular needs.

The company also creates custom-tailored nutritional supplements, which we discuss below. Custom-tailored supplements offer a unique advantage by addressing specific deficiencies, imbalances, or nutritional gaps that supplement makers can identify through comprehensive health testing.

This is a much more targeted method than that of the average colon cleanser, which takes more of a one-size-fits-all approach. In most cases, these companies provide you with an at-home test kit that requires you to take one or more samples, typically including stool, blood, or saliva. Your test results can reveal things like vitamin deficiencies, microbiome imbalances, and more.

When you take your custom supplements, these issues should resolve over time. Viome — our top pick for custom gut health and whole-body health supplements — is one of the innovators of this approach, and the list of ingredients it can pick and choose from when curating your supplements contains more than components.

Whether you supplement for gut health or whole-body health, this kind of customization is a pricier route than off-the-rack solutions, but the addition of free yearly retesting takes some of the sting out of the experience. You already produce digestive enzymes that can deal with most of the foods you eat.

Lactase is likely the most recognizable digestive enzyme, mainly because so much of the population has some degree of lactose intolerance. Alpha-galactosidase can help you digest those.

That includes common enzymes like amylase, lactase, and bromelain, but it also contains a 40mg dose of a digestive support blend. These botanicals include fennel seed, coriander seed, ginger extract, and turmeric. These ingredients can help with things like constipation, indigestion, and inflammation.

Depending on when you notice your symptoms, you may only end up taking one or two capsules daily, which would lower your cost. And, whatever your method, property hydration will make a positive difference.

Not exactly. Some products marketed as colon cleansers contain several botanical ingredients known to act as laxatives, like fennel seed. Some will draw water into the bowels, while others can stimulate the nerves of the colon to compress and instigate a bowel movement.

Ideally, you should never have to cleanse your colon because the process should happen naturally. You can help this process by eating healthy, exercising, and drinking water.

You should poop anywhere from three times per day to three times per week. If you start to stool more or less than usual, something might be wrong. Or, if your poop looks or smells different or is painful to pass, it might be a good idea to consult your doctor. Innerbody uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institutes of Health. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Almario, C. Burden of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the United States: Results of a Nationally Representative Survey of Over 71, Americans. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 11 , Yang, J. Effect of dietary fiber on constipation: A meta analysis. World Journal of Gastroenterology: WJG, 18 48 , Kechagia, M.

Health Benefits of Probiotics: A Review. ISRN Nutrition, Ianiro, G. Digestive Enzyme Supplementation in Gastrointestinal Diseases. Current Drug Metabolism, 17 2 , Bashir, A.

StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island FL : StatPearls Publishing. Lambeau, K. Fiber supplements and clinically proven health benefits: How to recognize and recommend an effective fiber therapy. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 29 4 , Doron, S.

Risk and Safety of Probiotics. Clinical Infectious Diseases: An Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 60 Suppl 2 , S Arieira, C. Endoscopy International Open, 9 11 , E Dabaja, A.

Polyethylene Glycol. Kieffer, D. Impact of Dietary Fibers on Nutrient Management and Detoxification Organs: Gut, Liver, and Kidneys. Advances in Nutrition, 7 6 , Acosta, R. Clinical effects of colonic cleansing for general health promotion: a systematic review. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 11 , — Cleveland Clinic.

Why You Should Avoid Colon Cleansing. Oster, J. Laxative abuse syndrome. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 74 5 , — Mishori, R. The dangers of colon cleansing. The Journal of Family Practice, 60 8 , — Quagliani, D. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 11 1 , Haworth, J.

The prevalence of intestinal dysbiosis in patients referred for antireflux surgery. Surg Endosc 35 , — Anderson, J. Health benefits of dietary fiber.

Creating a meal plan ahead of time can help you stay on track and ensure that you have the necessary foods on hand. Purchase necessary supplies: Depending on the type of gut cleanse you choose, you may need to purchase certain supplies, such as a juicer for a juice cleanse or an enema kit for a colon cleanse.

Make sure you have everything you need before beginning the cleanse. Give your digestive system a much-needed reboot Foods to Eat During a Gut Cleanse You should eat whole, nutrient-rich foods that support healthy gut flora while on a gut cleanse. Here are some foods to consider including to your gut cleanse diet: Whole, nutrient-dense foods: Fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and some legumes are all great choices for a gut cleanse.

These foods are rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which help support healthy digestion and a healthy gut microbiome. High-fiber foods: Fiber helps promote healthy bowel movements and supports the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.

Some high-fiber foods to consider during a gut cleanse include chia seeds, flaxseeds, psyllium husk, and fruits and vegetables like berries, broccoli, and sweet potatoes. Fermented foods: Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, and kombucha are rich in probiotics, which help support a healthy gut microbiome.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help improve digestion, boost immune function, and reduce inflammation. Herbs and spices: Certain herbs and spices have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help support gut health.

Some examples include ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, and garlic. Foods to Avoid During a Gut Cleanse If you want to be successful in your gut cleanse journey, processed foods, high-sugar foods, alcohol, and caffeine should be avoided during a gut cleanse. Here are some types of foods to consider avoiding during a gut cleanse: Processed foods: Processed foods, including packaged snacks and meals, often contain added sugars, artificial ingredients, and unhealthy fats that can be difficult for the body to digest and may contribute to inflammation.

High-sugar foods: Consuming high amounts of sugar can disrupt the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, leading to digestive issues and inflammation. Foods to avoid include sugary drinks, candy, and baked goods. Alcohol and caffeine: Both alcohol and caffeine can irritate the gut lining and disrupt the balance of gut bacteria.

Animal milk products: Some animal products, such as dairy, can be hard on the digestive system and promote inflammation. Consider limiting or avoiding these during a gut cleanse. How to Perform a Gut Cleanse There are different methods of gut cleansing, including juice cleanses, colon cleanses, and food-based cleanses.

Performing a gut cleanse typically involves the following steps: Remove certain foods from your diet: This may include processed foods, high-sugar foods, alcohol, caffeine, and animal milks.

Add nutrient-dense, fiber-rich foods to your diet: Focus on whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. Consider supplements: Probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes may be helpful in supporting gut health during a cleanse.

Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water and herbal teas can help support the digestive system and flush out toxins. Follow the recommended protocol: The specific protocol for a gut cleanse may vary depending on the type of cleanse being performed.

Final Thoughts Gut cleansing can enhance health and wellbeing. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the best time of year to perform a gut cleanse?

Can gut cleansing be harmful? How long should you do a gut cleanse? How do I detox my gut? How do you detox and reset your gut?

How can I clean my gut in one day? How do you know if you need a gut cleanse? Things Your Gut Loves The Pill is Not the Answer Why Eat Clean? LOVE is the highest vibration there is!!! In my talks I speak. DECISION EVERRRRR 🙌🏻 The simple fact.

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