Your body is like a machine that works round the clock 24/7. The process takes place continually even if you’re in deep slumber. In order for it to function in optimal level complete care and frequent check-ups must be done. Moreover, your body has its own mechanism that signals you when something is wrong. It has its own compensatory processes that helps each of the co-existing systems work hand in hand especially when one of them is in trouble. Due to these compensatory mechanisms you are given information on when to have that visit to your physician.

It is in this time that you are able to understand the need to get rid of certain toxins that affect the body’s performance. Colon cleansing is one of the procedures that can help ward off such toxins and bring your body back into tip top shape.

In order to best understand the need for colon cleansing, you must primarily understand what is happening inside that commonly neglected part of the digestive system known as the colon. Now you might recall this from your biology class back in high school. Anatomically speaking, the colon is within your large intestine running from what is known as the cecum going down through the rectum. Since it is a portion of the large intestine you then have to be acquainted with the function of the large intestine. Its main job is to store waste for elimination and reabsorb water thereby maintaining acid-base balance within the body.

The colon is important since it affects the performance of other organs, say the liver and the kidney. Unfortunately, the colon tends to be in a complete mess when you fool around with your health particularly in aspects of diet, lifestyle, and living conditions. These risk factors can get your colon into trouble by clogging it with toxins and mucoids. Taking into account diet, too much consumption of protein in the form of smoked red meat which is not prepared and cooked properly results into increased acidity. Due to this, the body experiences deficiencies in vital minerals and electrolytes. More so, the colon is incapable to do battle with toxins and hazardous bacteria.

It is not only what you eat that hits your colon right on the kisser. It’s the way you eat. Overeating is a sin that can rot your colon down the drain because enzymes tend to be overused in this state which means that your colon needs to go overtime at the office. Sedentary lifestyle and vices can heat up your colon. It goes hand in hand with improper diet that can gradually kill your colon. The environment in which you move about is also another thing to consider. Well, it’s not really your fault since you are in the industrial age but be keen of your surroundings particularly when exposed to increased pollution, secondary smoking, pesticides, and other dangerous chemicals. Why so? Simply because when the immune system is compromised the colon is weakened as well.

Colon cleansing is one effective method of addressing problems like constipation and sluggishness. Along with it is the opportunity to be clean inside out meaning you have the opportunity to revitalize vital organs such as the stomach, the small intestine, and of course your large intestine. The end-result then would be a better overall look and well-being.

September was National Cholesterol Education Month. And although we hear a lot about it, many of us may not understand the basics of cholesterol or what can be done to help manage it. Unfortunately, there are no outward signs if you are having a cholesterol problem, making it even more important to get the facts.

What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that cannot be dissolved in your blood stream. It must be transported out. Cholesterol moves through your blood stream via proteins called, lipoproteins. Too much of the “bad” cholesterol or Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), can lead to clogging, while High Density Lipoproteins (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, carries cholesterol away from your arteries to keep you healthy. As you can see, you want less of the bad stuff – LDL – and more of the good stuff – HDL.

Where does cholesterol come from?
I’m sure you’ve seen the same TV commercials I have about the two sources of cholesterol -your body and your diet. It’s true. The cholesterol created in your body is made naturally in your liver as a protective agent to combat the bad cholesterol. Meats, whole milk, cheese, butter, eggs, and convenience foods inject additional amounts of cholesterol into your diet, which is why it’s recommended you limit your consumption of these foods. But that’s not always easy to do.

With today’s on-the-go lifestyle, many of us eat at fast food restaurants or heat up a pre-packaged dinner in the microwave. These foods are often laden with unhealthy oils and fats that cause your cholesterol intake to go through the roof.

Natural solutions to clobber cholesterol
Here are a few food, lifestyle, and supplement options to consider to you help clobber cholesterol naturally:

Foods

Oatmeal and oat bran

Walnuts and almonds

Fish and Omega 3 fatty acids

Pears and oranges

Brussels sprouts, carrots, dried peas and beans

Lifestyle

It’s recommended you get 30 minutes of regular physical activity most if not all, days.

Your diet should include lean meats, fish, skinless poultry, whole grain foods and fruits and vegetables

Herbs and Natural Nutrients

Policosanol. This is a naturally occurring substance found in rice bran, sugar and beeswax. It blocks cholesterol’s production at the earliest stages, helps maintain normal cholesterol production in your liver, and fosters normal LDL cholesterol excretion by your body.

Green tea. Research suggests that the polyphenols found in green tea combine with bile and cholesterol to form a substance that cannot be absorbed by your intestines, so it’s eliminated.

Garlic. Supports your heart muscle so it pumps strong and healthy and promotes your heart’s ability to utilize oxygen.

Hawthorn Berry. Helps keep cholesterol from getting stuck on your arteries.

Coenzyme Q-10. CoQ-10 is a fat-soluble compound that provides energy for every cell, and is especially important for your heart. As you age, your ability to produce CoQ-10 declines. And, if you take cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, it lowers your CoQ-10 levels even further.

In addition to the above, I recommend Cholest-Ex^TM from Botanic Choice because it combines many of these nutrients into a single formula.

Regardless of your approach, I suggest you know your numbers and work with your health care provider to help monitor your cholesterol before it’s too late.

by Gary Gendron, D.C., C.C.S.P., C.C.N., D.A.C.B.N.
Bio: Dr. Gary Gendron is a Clinical Director of the Integrated Medical Center in Bonita Springs, Florida and a specialist in nutritional health and vitamin therapy. He serves as advisor to Botanic Choice.

Thanksgiving is almost upon us and that marks the beginning of the holiday eating season and those dreaded extra pounds that usually accompany it. The holiday eating season is what drives quite a few people to choose Weight Loss, Diet or Fitness related New Year’s Resolutions. Well here are a few tips to keep those extra pounds off and will maybe allow you to choose a different type of New Year’s Resolution this year!

The most important tip I can give is to use moderation. The holidays bring lots of temptations when it comes to food and trying to keep from gaining unwanted pounds doesn’t mean you can’t partake in the goodies, you just need to make sure you don’t over eat. I know we are all guilty of over eating and Thanksgiving is the first test. Thanksgiving usually brings turkey, sweet potatoes, dressing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the fixings and usually in large quantities. The large quantities tempt you to eat more then you should, just because it is there. If you can restrain yourself and only eat a normal portion it can save you big time.

This same rule can be used when it comes to cookies, candies and all the sweets that come with Christmas. It is very unrealistic to think that you will be able to not eat any treats, so go ahead and try them, but eat just one (or a reasonable quantity). There’s no reason you need to be the one that finishes off that plate of cookies that someone brought in to work!

The second tip I can give you is to make sure to not forget about exercise. The holidays can be stressful and busy, but getting in your exercise is a great way to keep those extra pounds off and keep your body burning calories. It’s also a great way to relieve some of that extra stress! Keeping up your exercise routine will also help you out later on if you need to increase the amount of exercise after the New Year, in the case that you do pack on a couple extra unwanted pounds.

The last tip I will give is a pretty obvious one. Eat healthy. There are usually tons of choices of what to eat and some of them are obviously much more healthy and better for your diet then others. That being said if you are really craving something eat some in a moderate amount or it will come back to haunt you, as you will probably gorge yourself on it later and eat WAY too much.

Have a great holiday and use these tips to stick to your diet over the holidays and avoid those dreaded holiday pounds!

Part 2 in our series regarding Acne.

Puberty is that stage in life when you are commonly hit by various life conflicts and in order to better equip yourself and overcome these conflicts you must understand how such problems arise. One common aspect that has to be dealt with is the physical change that occurs during this stage. Being a greenhorn when it comes to these changes you sometimes become very terrified and stressed. Having a better understanding of what’s happening can be your greatest ally in each scenario. Acne is one of the most feared physiological effects of puberty which actually worsens when adolescence is reached. So with this let’s find out what brings about such condition.

Acne or pimples can be seen in common areas of the body such as the face, chest, back, shoulders, and even the upper arms. So where does these pesky critters come from? The problem starts when clogging happens. Skin pores are being clogged by bacteria, wasted or dead skin cells, and of course trapped oil. There are glands called sebaceous glands which are just beneath the skin’s surface. These glands are responsible for the secretion of sebum which acts by keeping the skin’s moisture level up to par. Now what happens during puberty is that there is a greater activity of male hormones known as androgens triggering these glands to have overproduction of sebum. Whiteheads and blackheads then enter the scene. This villainous pair is collectively identified as comedones which normally progresses during mild acne cases. Their formation blocks skin pores due to the mixing of excess sebum, wasted skin cells, dirt, and bacteria.

Now for moderate and severe inflammatory acne cases, things become very down and dirty. There are sebaceous follicles within your skin wherein sebaceous glands and hair follicles come together. When these so-called follicles get pretty clogged, Propioni-bacterium acnes do their worst and take advantage. These are bacteria harboring on the skin. Pimple or acne formation is brought about by the weakening of the compromised follicle. Due to its weakening, it bursts leading to the secretion of sebum, white blood cells, and bacteria on nearby tissues. Afterwards, new skins cells come into the picture to kick out dead and damaged cell. Unfortunately this brings about scarring. Superficially inflamed pimples are called papules while those found deep beneath the skin’s surface are known as pustules. Acnes enclosed in sac-like formations are called cysts while nodules come in hard swellings. These two are the most severe forms of acnes.

There is no definite cause found to be associated with acne formation although there are a bunch of risk factors commonly tagged along. As mentioned earlier, it is during puberty that acne begins to strike. This is because of the hormonal variations in this stage. Boys have more tendency than girls due to greater levels of androgen. Hormonal diseases and disorders can also contribute. Family history can also be noted as having a greater effect on the chances of having acne. Conditions such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can heighten up chances of acne formation.

Physical care and hygiene is also another factor. Pricking and pinching of pimples can worsen the condition. Allergies to different cosmetic products and frequent exposure to dust, dirt, and pollution can also be considered. Finally the most common culprit of this case is stress.
Upon knowing these acne basics you can now face these critters anytime, anywhere.

The onset of adolescence

High school is that awkward stage when teenagers start dealing with physical changes beyond their imagination. Some enjoy growth spurts which put them at the back of the line during flag ceremonies; some simply gain weight at an unstoppable rate. Some start having red lesions on their faces which adds to the awkwardness that comes with being a young adult. These lesions appear conspicuously on ones cheeks and are exacerbated by the excretion of excessive oil from facial pores that a normal teenager suffers from. The inflamed appearance of these spots does not necessarily spell disaster in a teenager’s entire life, but it does leave scars, and can always make one wonder why finding a date is such a herculean task. Welcome to the ‘world of acne’.

Up close and ‘too’ personal

Acne is a skin disease that affects mostly the face, but is not exclusively confined to it. Other parts of a person’s body are prone to having acne, such as the shoulders and back. One of the most common skin diseases known to the world of dermatology, it is basically a chronic inflammation of the skin. It varies from one case to another but is usually manifested by pimples, blackheads or whiteheads. Contrary to how ordinary it may sound, acne can have lasting damages to a person’s skin. Severe cases of acne can leave scars on an otherwise porcelain face. The redness may disappear after sometime but the unappealing spots remain noticeable.

All is fair in love and uhm… acne

And although teenagers are most susceptible to this disease, nobody is totally spared. Even a dermatologist can have an occasional pimple or two. However, owing to the hormonal changes that adolescents in high school go through, it is in this age bracket that ‘zits’ start coming out like there’s no tomorrow. It does not mean, though, that beyond this age, pimples are already unheard of. Adults can have them late in their twenties or even thirties. One’s sex, likewise, does not offer a conclusive explanation as to who is predisposed to having acne. Both sexes can experience varying forms of acne, although women are more likely to endure a regular bout with intermittent pimples due to their monthly cycle which causes an imbalance of the hormones.

Vanity knows no price

Despite the apparent downside of having acne at any point in one’s life, there is still no reason to panic. The advancement of today’s technology can make the trace of even the ugliest pimple disappear forever. A quick trip to the nearest dermatological clinic can work wonders not only in removing acne marks but also to prevent the possible outburst of other facial problems. From facial hair treatment to warts removal, these clinics offer an array of remedies for clients who are willing to pay. Those with acne problems, however, normally stick to the basics, which includes an initial assessment plus a series of follow-through treatments. These treatments don’t come cheap and require very specific brands of facial wash, cleanser, and moisturizer — the entire lot, really. But the promise of a ‘glowing’ and ‘blemish-free’ skin is enough to completely ignore how pricey it really is.

The Little Prince

One does not need to be acquainted with the likes of Belo and Calayan, otherwise known as ‘doctors to the stars’ to understand what acne is and how it can be countered. Educational materials abound in magazines, the internet and in those lifestyle channels on the tube. If dealing with acne is too expensive for comfort, one can always turn to Saint Antoine de Exupery who said: “Real beauty is invisible to the naked eye.”

If you want to improve your health then you must decide to schedule yourself a 15 to 30 days of detoxification diet through Colon Cleanse. There’s a good and bad news when you finally decided to have a detoxification diet. The good news is you will live more a happy life but the bad news is you have to choose what kind colon cleansing diet procedure that will suit your lifestyle. Some people do not want to take colon cleansing pills while others do.

Some people do not want to drink vegetable juices while others can take that procedure. So, before you finally decided to have a colon cleansing diet you must do your homework by choosing what is the right detoxification dietary program for you.

Most people believe that not all programs are suitable for everybody. If cleansing diet program #1 successfully effective with Jen, it doesn’t mean that program will also effective to Rachel. If we really want to totally detoxify our colon disease we must be particular for a single program and we must stick to it. Some programs can destroy us, so before using that particular program you must consult your doctor first. And the best of all, whatever is our choice, we should be satisfy the needs to suits our lifestyles.

Let’s think of it that a particular program can recommend a fiber to improve your good digestion and nutrient assimilation. If the people will follow a particular program there are promises that will help you boosting your lowered energy; they will abolish bad breath; eradicate constipation; and help you go down your heaviness while escalating your life superiority.
They have different testimonials that in less than two months, they loose thirty pounds through their colon cleansing dietary program.

They’ve developed a self confidence and created more energy for their exercise schedules. There’s another testimony that following their program for three weeks and the bad breath they are irritating for years disappeared. A testimonial says that she cleared her problem in constipation after taking that program. A testimonial also will be imposing that he lost his heavy weight abdomen and felt clear without any burden in their. Whatever the testimonials you’ve read in any of the colon cleansing detoxification dietary program, you must be aware the pros and cons of your choice program so that you will live a worry-free life.

You can try this detox diet, hopefully will satisfy your needs. Be ready for the surprising procedure. Convert yourself from heavy breakfast into fruit-eating only until eleven in the morning. This practice can digest the fruits easily; also offers more fiber but less fat than other foods. Eat as many as you want but make sure that is purely fruits no other food but vitamin C. During your lunch until afternoon snacks you must not eat both carbohydrates and proteins at every meal. Their digestive fluids are not the same with the carbohydrates against proteins and it will lead into constipation and bloating. If you are really hungry before bedtime, make sure that you will eat your evening meal two to three hours before preferred time to sleep.

And for the beverages you want to drink is you must drink only half of your body by ounces (e.g: If a man that weights 200 pounds, he must drinking 100 ounces daily or an equal of 11-12 nine-ounce glasses of water daily). It is also advisable to drink purified water as well as green teas, juices and warm water to totally Colon Cleanse Detox Diet.

With an increasing number of celebrities replacing their gym equipment with incense burners and other yoga paraphernalia, one can say that yoga indeed has taken Hollywood by storm. The growing popularity of this practice is manifested in almost all health magazines nowadays, wherein a page is allotted to recommend yoga to their audiences. Madonna, Ricky Martin, Meg Ryan, and J.Lo, among others, often grace the covers of these magazines.

What’s the hype all about, you ask?

Celebrities testify to the benefits of yoga, especially as a shape up, calm down routine. With all the hustle and bustle of show business, famous people need to calm the frenzy and get back in touch with themselves (and boy, there’s no better way than doing so while shedding off unwanted body mass). Yoga is a methodology for achieving these results.

More than that, however, yoga is well-known for its healing and relaxing effects. In a lifestyle magazine column, yoga guru Danny Paradise (Madonna’s first mentor) talks about the inner peace that yoga instills in its devoted practitioners. He says it clears the mind of negative thoughts while it creates a sense of well-being and calm. As quoted from him, “yoga was created to free people in all ways…from the limitations of their minds and bodies, from teachers, teachings, attachments, expectations, from dependency on any person or thing. It is a personal, private journey to liberation.”

Celebrities have greatly contributed to the popularization of yoga in Hollywood and in the United States. Madonna, who is old enough to be a granny, for instance, boasts of a twenty year old’s physique (and she gives all the credit to her yoga practice). Even the crowd-favorite basketball team, Los Angeles Lakers, speaks of their belief in yoga as a performance booster and flexibility ritual. They say that yoga tends to lengthen their muscles which make them less prone to strains and injuries.

Perhaps, yoga is indeed a perfect regimen for celebrities who want to cope with their paparazzi-crazy existence. Sometimes, especially when things get blown out of proportion, they turn to yoga for balance and strength. This apparently is way better than hearing of them looking into alcohol, sex, and drugs to get their feet back on track.

Here are other reasons why celebrities embrace yoga:

1. Mental relief. Yoga is a perfect abatement from bodily and mental exploits. The hectic schedules of celebrities keep their minds under pressure, thus making it necessary for them to put a new spin in their busy lives. Yoga is a recreational activity that provides diversion and entertainment while calming the mind.

2. Bodily strength. There are a lot of yoga poses that challenge one’s balance, strength and flexibility. For them celebrities who need to retain their poise forever, yoga helps them maintain a good image while increasing the body’s physical strength. It also boosts the body’s natural defenses against chronic sicknesses.

3. Muscle toning. Yoga is said to be a very effective weight loss ritual. While doing yoga, celebrities improve their posture and reduce muscular tension while burning calories and excess body fats.

4. Identity element. Yoga has become a fashion statement for most celebrities and their fans, especially since Madonna and Jennifer Aniston got in the yoga bus. It gives people the impression that one lives a happy, healthy and productive lifestyle.

1. Fruits and Vegetables that are high in antioxidants – Antioxidants are excellent chemicals that help neutralize free radicals in our body. Antioxidants when not neutralized can cause a condition called “oxidative stress.” It is a condition where there is an imbalance between the factors that causes oxidation and the factors that inhibit oxidation. Free radicals can cause cell damage that results our body’s meta-block system and organ’s system to break down. Here are the top antioxidants that can help you in weight loss:

Blueberries – They are chock-full of antioxidants and fiber, low in sugar and calories. Research shows that blueberries has the greatest anti-oxidants among fruits and vegetables. Aside from that, blueberries has contents that reverse cell degeneration. They also has flavonoids and beta-carotene which helps to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and an effective anti-inflammatory components.

Kale and Spinach – These two vegetables are rich in antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin which help protect against age-related cataracts and macular degeneration.

Broccoli – New medical study shows that eating broccoli and broccoli sprouts reduces your risk of heart disease, high-blood pressure and stroke. Broccoli has high contents of antioxidants called “glucoraphanin,” a chemical which boost the body’s defense system against cancer-forming free radicals.

2. Fiber-rich and low-calories fruits – Eating fruits a day like apple does not only keeps the doctor away but also helps you loose weight. Aside from the benefits of helping prevent cardiovascular problems, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and high cholesterol, the nutrients found in fruits are excellent source of fat burning compounds. Fruits satisfy hunger by taking longer to consume, thus your appetite is reduced.

3. Zero-Fat Vegetables – Vegetables are good source of fiber which helps reduce fat soluble and other fat-causing factors that we have taken making it great foods for weight loss and maintenance. Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, brussels sprouts, potatoes, and squash are just some of these vegetables.

4. High-Energy Foods – Great “go” foods has numerous health benefits. Examples of these are oatmeal, yogurt, spinach and canned salmon, tuna or sardines.

Canned Salmon, Tuna, or Sardines – These three fishes are great souce of omega-3 fatty acids, provide extra calcium and protein aside from milk. You can add salmon, tuna or sardines as filling to a whole wheat sandwich with onions, lettuce, tomato, and less-fat dressing for a healthy lunch or heavy snack. You can also add them to your favorite salad. It is much healthier to opt for those packed in water than those in oil.

Oatmeal – Oatmeal balances your cholesterol in the body and an essential heart-protecting food.

5. Foods with Incredible Crunch – Foods that require a good bit of chewing are excellent diet foods because require you ample time to chew and thus the brain’s appestat or appetite is satisfied long before you have the chance of consuming too many calories. Crunchable foods provide healthy benefits because they are high in fiber and promotes good metabolism. Examples of these foods are apple, corn, celery and carrots.

6. Power Foods – Power foods are foods not only packed with vitamins but contain many different types of unique nutrients such as phytonutrients, flavonoids, monounsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, complex carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrition-boosting compounds. Examples of these are:

Whole grains breads and cereals especially those that contain bran, an excellent source of fiber, B vitamins, and minerals including zinc, iron and magnesium.

Green leafy vegetables like spinach, dark lettuces, bok choy, chard, collard greens, and seaweed.

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower because they are excellent source of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber.

Orange vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, butternut squash, winter squash, and cantaloupe because they are loaded with cancer-fighting anti-oxidants beta-carotene and vitamins C and E.

Legumes, nuts and seeds are also power foods that help weight loss. Examples of these legumes are beans and lentils. The high fiber content of beans and lentils helps to reduce the absorption of saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories from the intestinal tract, reduces your appetite, and may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Dealing with acne is hardly a pleasant experience. It may probably be found scribbled in the topmost list of ‘most embarrassing moment’ in a teenager’s high school diary. For some people, it is a burden too irritating to carry. How does one really solve an acne breakout? Is there a fool-proof set of things-to-do that would shield one from being victimized by this skin disease? For those who are currently left clueless with this dilemma, read on the following random tips. Apparently, all it takes is developing a healthy lifestyle that factors in one’s dietary intake, hygiene, and daily activities.

You are what you eat

Starting the day with a healthy breakfast is always great. For an even healthier twist, include a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade or a tall glass of orange juice in the menu. And instead of the usual sugar or gum syrup for a sweeter taste, add maple instead.

It is not always advisable to skip lunch, even for those who are in a diet. But for the figure conscious ones, having fruits instead of bread or salad during lunchtime would make a big difference. An apple, a selection of berries or any other seasonal fruits available in the nearest grocery would do. If there is an organic version available, that would even be a better choice.

For dinner, enjoying a simple home-made salad is best. Dressing need not be too complicated or gourmet style to make the salad palatable. A combination of lemon juice, olive oil, and salt is a perfect match for those healthy greens.

Hygiene, exercise and lifestyle

There’s a good reason why the World Health Organization advises people to always wash their hands before eating. The most widely used rationale for this is that it avoids the transfer and ingestion of unhealthy organisms into the body. But the truth is, doing so not only ensures safety for the stomach, but also for the face. Unwashed hands carry harmful organisms and bacteria that could cause irritation to the facial skin, thereby resulting to redness and infection.

As sleep is part of an essential regimen in keeping one’s youthful looks, it should be done so religiously. But sleeping on dirty pillow covers defeats the purpose altogether. Pillow covers should ideally be changed every night to avoid irritation of the face. Make sure also that only hypoallergenic laundry materials are used to wash the covers so as to avoid having allergic reactions to them.

Regular exercise keeps the body healthy and aids in the process of detoxification and metabolism. In today’s fast-paced world, experts of various forms of exercise offer tutorial and even video manuals on how to survive an hour-long work out without the fuss of enrolling in a gym class. Yoga, one of the best used exercises these days, can be done within the comforts of a home.

The common perception about massage is that it provides comfort to sore muscles and aching joints. Truth is, massage also offers a soothing effect on the skin, especially when done gently on the face. A regular but gentle massage done on the face aids in cleansing it and offers an alternative way of firming up those unwanted lines and wrinkles. An alternate of upward and circular strokes on the face can help put off that daunting trip to the plastic surgeon for some time.

Peace is still the best kept beauty secret

This may not always be true, but no amount of treatment or routine can substitute to what inner peace can bring in a person’s life. Peace gives a priceless glow that no sum of money could buy. The cliché must be true. Acne or not, beauty always springs from within.

Perhaps you’ve heard about colon cleansing and its effects in improving the health and lives of those who have undergone it and came out cleaner on the inside. If you’re interested in doing a colon cleanse too, it’s best to get to know your colon first.

What is the colon?
The colon is a part of the digestive tract that lies at the end of the large intestine. This is where salt and water are extracted from the solid wastes that pass through this on their way out of the body. Unfortunately, not all wastes that pass through the colon are successfully expelled. Some remain stuck to the colon walls and remain there for a long time. The toxins contained in these wastes may also be reabsorbed by the colon and distributed back into the body, ultimately affecting your health and energy as time passes.

What does a colon cleanse do?
Simply put, a colon cleanse removes all that excess waste in your colon and detoxifies you in the process, leaving you cleaner on the inside, healthier, and even several pounds lighter.

When should you get a colon cleanse?
There are no unique symptoms that show up to tell you exactly when you need a colon cleansing, so it’s mostly just a matter of your decision to do this procedure. The effects of having a dirty colon are varied and can easily be attributed to some other possible ailment, but they are definitely more than just a bloated tummy or difficulty in passing. All that excess waste and toxins in your colon can give you more problems that affect your proper function in everyday activities.

Some conditions that can possibly be attributed to a dirty colon includes obvious ones such as constipation, flatulence, bloated tummy, impaired digestion and irritable bowel syndrome. The not so obvious ones include excess weight due to the excess waste, mood swings, bad breath, headaches, fouler-than-usual-smelling stools, inexplicable food cravings, and even skin problems. If you have recurring experiences of one or more of these conditions, it might be a sign to consider getting a colon cleanse.

What are the ways to cleanse your colon?
There are several effective ways in cleansing your colon. One of these is getting a colonic irrigation, a medical procedure that involves having someone else insert a special equipment through your rectum into the colon and introducing copious amounts of water or a water mixture to cleanse and irrigate the colon. Although the process itself will definitely be uncomfortable and tedious, it does not result in a very long recovery period. Aside from a little cramping and the constant discharging of wastes within a few hours after the procedure, there is nothing else you need to worry about after a colonic irrigation and you can go back to your usual activities right away.

Another popular method is using a colon cleanse kit which are easy to find in drugstores. The best thing about using colon cleanse kits is that you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home in order to get it, and you don’t need other people to assist you in doing the procedure. The worst thing, however, is that you will be making a lot of trips to the bathroom at unexpected times. Just don’t stray too far when you use this method.

If you’re looking for a more natural way of having a clean colon, there are actually several ways to do so, such as going on a juice fast, or introducing a healthy amount of insoluble fibers into your daily diet.

Now that you’ve gotten to know your colon a little bit better, you’re now ready to take the necessary steps to make it clean and keep it that way. In order to get the most effective results from colon cleansing, it is recommended that you first consult with your doctor and hear what he has to say.