Whether you’ve heard a little or a lot about colon cleansing, there are some facts about this natural process you should know. An article published this week in the national news would have you believe the alleged “side effects” of colon cleansing far outweigh any benefits, or that there is really no need for cleansing at all. Let’s take a look at the facts.

Our Dirty, Not-So-Little Secret

Not even the traditional medical community would disagree that our increasingly polluted environment is exposing us to more dangerous toxins than ever before. Chemical pollution is an unavoidable reality—from air pollution to the chemicals present in our homes, the goods we consume, and our water supply. Our lungs, digestive system, kidneys, liver, lymphatic and vascular systems are now working overtime to filter and eliminate contaminants from our body to keep us healthy. Even a top-notch cleaning crew needs support.

Natural + Natural = Big Benefit

This common sense formula refers to the combination of natural colon cleansing herbs with your body’s natural cleansing processes. Ancient Chinese medicine has long used herbs that support bodily functions to help restore balance and health. The medical community, however, largely ignores herbal remedies. This simply isn’t their arena and they have no power of regulation over natural supplements.

Colon Hydrotherapy and Colon Cleansing

Colon hydrotherapy is the process of safely irrigating the colon with warm water to remove fecal matter and gas. Colon hydrotherapy can be an excellent jumping off point for initiating healthy weight loss and detoxification. Seek out an experienced and trained colon hydrotherapist and rest assured that prescription devices are required in the U.S. for this procedure.

Herbal colon cleansing through the use of carefully formulated supplements helps extend the cleansing cycle, flush toxins and waste from the body, and boost energy. The ingredients in these formulas are selected for their time-honored detoxification actions, vital organ support, and their safe, established use among the public.

Do Your Herbal Homework

The more you learn about natural herbs the better informed you’ll be when considering a cleanse. The FDA requires that each herbal ingredient be listed on supplement packages in their specific amounts. A wealth of information exists online and in print detailing these ingredients’ natural sources and health benefits.

The national news article that debunks colon cleansing as “not so healthy” spotlights extreme, uninformed cases. The reality is that cleansing very rarely produces any “side effects” and has a long history of safe and effective use.

Air Pollution, Ancient Chinese Medicine, Bodily Functions, Boost Energy, Chemical Pollution, Chinese Medicine, Colon Cleanse, Colon Cleansing, Colon Hydrotherapist, colon hydrotherapy, Dangerous Toxins, Fecal Matter, Jumping Off Point, Medical Community, Natural Colon, natural supplements, Polluted Environment, Rest Assured That, Top Notch, toxins, Unavoidable Reality, Vascular Systems Hide

Any food we consume these days, unless it’s organic, was almost certainly exposed to pesticides at some point. The use of pesticides on food crops has largely increased over the last century in America. In a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, pesticides were detected in 96 percent of blood and urine samples of more than 5,000 Americans age 6 and older. Pesticide prevalence in the US is higher than it’s ever been and the toxicity of pesticides is unquestionable. These harmful chemicals have been linked to various health problems, such as skin, eye and lung irritation, brain and nervous system toxicity and hormone disruption.

Buying organic is the healthiest choice but with limited supply and high prices, purchasing all organic produce may not be possible for the average shopper. Luckily we now have some perspective on the world’s most polluted produce with the annual “dirty dozen” list.

For the past 7 years the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit environmental health organization, has helped consumers who are concerned about pesticides on produce. Each year EWG scientists test conventionally grown (not organic) produce samples for pesticide residues and use data collected from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Analysts assemble a ranking of the fruits and vegetables that contain the greatest amount of pesticide residues called the “dirty dozen.” This inventory helps consumers decide which organic fruits and vegetables to splurge on when they’re shopping for produce. Similarly, a separate list is released of the non-organic produce with the least accumulation of potentially harmful pesticide residues called the “clean fifteen.”

Dirty Dozen 2011 (buy organic when possible)

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (imported)
7. Grapes (imported)
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries (domestic)
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/collard greens

Clean Fifteen 2011 (lowest amounts of pesticides)

1. Onions
2. Sweet corn
3. Pineapples
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet peas
7. Mangoes
8. Eggplants
9. Cantaloupe (domestic)
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms 

You may be thinking that you’re in the clear because you wash all of your fruits and veggies. While it’s true that washing non-organic fruits and vegetables helps remove some chemical residues, washing produce only goes so far. Pesticides are also absorbed through the roots of plants so washing won’t remove all risk of pesticide exposure. Plus, before the EWG tests any fruit or vegetable for pesticides, samples are washed and peeled. Produce is evaluated just as it would be consumed, making the “dirty dozen” and “clean fifteen” lists even more accurate.

But don’t let the dirty dozen scare you. The health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables far outweigh any pesticide exposure risk. It’s always best to choose organic when possible to limit your exposure to harmful levels of pesticides, but now you can choose your produce wisely and not break the bank in the process.

Since we’re all exposed to harmful chemicals like pesticides, remember to do a total-body cleanse 2-4 times each year to help keep your detoxification processes in tip-top shape.

clean 15, cleansing, dirty dozen, Environmental Working Group, pesticides Hide