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Maintaining good colon health is essential for keeping our digestive system operating properly. The job of the colon is to absorb the remaining water and nutrients and push waste into the small intestine to be eliminated. If this process is not working properly it slows everything to a crawl. The results can be constipation, gas, fatigue and the resulting effect of not being able to lose weight as well as loss of energy. It also has a negative effect on our overall health because poor digestive function also affects other organ systems in the body. Toxins and parasites accumulate in the colon over time making it less effective. This is why colon cleansing can be beneficial to our overall health.
Along with toxins that build up over time in the colon a variety of parasites can also be found. These are best to eliminate before they cause unnecessary discomfort and problems to our overall health. Some of the more common parasites that can accumulate in the colon are:
* Roundworms - These are the most common form of parasite and can grow up to 30" long. Imagine how uncomfortable it would be to have a 30" worm inside you
* Hookworms - These have the ability to enter the body through the skin. If you are in a warm climate and do not always wear shoes it is easy for this parasite to enter your body.
* Tapeworms - These can be found in many types of meat and fish that we eat and can get huge. The amazing thing about them is they have the ability to grow UP TO 30 FEET LONG.
Needless to say these parasites and other toxins that can build up can become a problem if not dealt with.
There are basically two types of colon cleansing methods available. One involves supplements that you take by mouth or through the rectum; the other is by irrigation which involves a practitioner pushing water into the rectum. This is called high colonics. If you decide to use a practitioner you want to make sure that you are dealing with someone who is licensed and recognized by a national organization and follows that organizations standards. Be aware that most states have their own rules as to whether a practitioner has to be professionally licensed. If you choose this method it is advisable to consult with your primary care physician, he or she may be able to point you in the right direction.
Now that we have a little better knowledge of the need and types of colon cleansing lets take a look at some of the benefits. We have all experienced constipation from time to time, this is quite normal. It becomes a problem when it becomes a chronic situation. Chronic is usually defined as 12 times or more per year. Chronic constipation is a symptom, not a disease. It results in more than 2.5 million visits to the doctor's office each year. If you feel that you are not quite ready for a doctors visit a colon cleanse can do wonders to relive this situation. Constipation over a long period of time can also lead to a very uncomfortable condition called piles (painful varicose veins in the canal of the anus). This condition can be avoided by avoiding constipation.
We have all seen commercials on television for prescription drugs that can help cure Acid Reflux Disease. This is a condition that is caused by acid in the stomach being forced up into the esophagus. The result of this being very uncomfortable and prolonged heartburn. A colon cleanse can get your stomach into a healthy position. With your stomach back in this healthy position acid reflux ceases to be a problem.
As we all know there are two types of people when it comes to weight loss, those that have the metabolism to eat anything they want and not gain weight and those of us that do not. We are bombarded each day with the latest diet or program that will help us shed those unwanted pounds. We see them on television and in print; they just seem to be everywhere. Picking the best one that works for you is often a tedious exercise in trial and error. But what a lot of people don't realize is if your digestive system is not functioning properly it does not matter which diet or program you choose. If you have a buildup of waste in your colon it slows everything to a crawl. This in turn has the effect of causing fatigue. Any weight loss program has to be a combination of diet, exercise and supplementation. If you are in a state of constant fatigue it is very hard to maintain the exercise portion of your program and increase your chance of failure.
