Is A Gut Cleanse Good Or Bad
Were not big fans of the common gut cleanses out there…not only are they super low in calories but more importantly, most gut cleanses dont actually help your gut health.
In reality, most gut cleanses are simply a version of fasting.
While fasting can temporarily reduce digestive problems, it doesnt do anything to prevent digestive issues in the future
Fasting also wont really help your skin, your immune system, or help you lose weight over the long term…all the benefits most cleanses promise. While you may notice short-term benefits with the caloric restriction that goes along with most gut cleanses, none of them are likely to stick around.
Our overall take on gut cleanses: not worth it.
Will Probiotics Make You Gain Weight
While it is believed that a connection exists between ones gut bacteria and obesity, the actual research just isnt there yet. Probiotics may show promise in regulating weight in mice, but again, the research is limited and no human trials exist.
The safest thing we can say is, dont overdo it. Eating too much of anything can become a bad thing and the same holds true for probiotics.
Research Has Shown That Probiotics Survive The Digestive Tract
This is not all theory. There is actually lots of research demonstrating that probiotic bacteria can make it safely though your stomach. Here are a few of the research papers, along with a relevant quotation from each one.
Recovery of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG from human colonic biopsies The colonization of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in five human colonoscopy patients was studied In all patients L.GG was the dominant faecal lactic acid bacterium as a result of the administration.
Analysis of the Fecal Microflora of Human Subjects Consuming a Probiotic Product Containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus DR20 The composition of the fecal microflora of 10 healthy subjects was monitored before , during , and after the administration of a milk product containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus DR20 DR20 was detected in the feces of all of the subjects during the test period, but at different frequencies.
Dietary supplementation with the probiotic L. reuteri ATCC 55730 induces significant colonization of the stomach, duodenum, and ileum of healthy humans, and this is associated with significant alterations of the immune response in the gastrointestinal mucosa.
You May Like: Which Probiotic Is Good For Eczema
Signs Your Probiotics Are Not Working
No improvement: If you dont see any improvements in your digestion or the digestive issues you are experiencing, this is likely not the right product for you.
If the probiotic works for you, at the very least you should be seeing an improvement in your digestion within four weeks of taking the product.
Side Effects: Some individuals experience minor side effects like mild bloating, flatulence or more frequent bowel movements for the first few days of taking a new probiotic.
This is your body getting used to the probiotic and potentially cleaning out harmful substances like pathogens. However, if these side effects persist beyond the first week of taking the probiotic, stop taking the product and consult a physician. If you experience more serious side effects like allergic reactions, dizziness, swelling or difficulty breathing, discontinue the product and contact your physician immediately.
What The Colon Is And What It Does
Your colon is an integral part of your digestive system and is also called the large intestine.
Doctors from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons report that leftover digested food enter the colon. In the colon, bacteria break down the waste material and remove water, salt, and some nutrients. Muscles slowly move the waste through the large intestine where it becomes stool or feces.
For your colon to function properly, there needs to be a healthy balance of good bacteria. If there is an imbalance in the number of good bacteria or your colon cant expel the waste, you could experience gastrointestinal problems.
A healthy colon effectively cleanses your body of waste and keeps you healthy and feeling good.
Don’t Miss: Are You Supposed To Take Probiotics With Antibiotics
How Probiotics Help Balance Your Gut Environment
The word is outprobiotics are crucial for a healthy gut and a happy life.
So, why does it sometimes seem like you start to feel worse before better when beginning a probiotic regimen?
As you may already know, the friendly flora that comprise the majority of your microbiome are essential for a vast number of important functions in your body, like supporting efficient digestion and a strong immune system, as well as helping to maintain positive moods and a healthy metabolism. Indeed, we rely on the trillions of beneficial bacteria in our gut to maintain nearly every aspect of our health and wellness.
But, if youre just beginning your journey on your path to improved gut health, you may notice some bumps in the road as you start to incorporate probiotics into your daily wellness plan, especially if your microbiome is out of balance from the many aspects of our modern lifestyles that can deplete beneficial bacteria.
You see, things like antibiotics in food and as medicine, antibacterial cleaners, excessive stress, sugar, processed foods, and even the aging process can lower your populations of probiotics that you need for optimal health. So, when you start replenishing the friendly flora in your gut, you might feel some changes as your microbiome begins to shift towards a healthier balance.
This is due to the amazing way probiotics encourage your body to clean house.
Probiotics and the Healing Crisis
Detoxifying Effects of Probiotics
How to Deal With This Transition
Where Do You Find Probiotics
Eager to reap the perks of probiotics? Yes, good! We all want those benefits! Yet before you hop on the bandwagon, you should know about optimal types and sources of probiotics so you can fully leverage the benefits.
First things first: Always opt for soil-based probiotics . These are superior for several reasons, namely that they are more hardy overall and therefore more effective than traditional probiotics you might find in supplements or foods like yogurt.
You May Like: Can Probiotics Help With Weight Loss
What Do Probiotics Do And Where Are They Found
Probiotics contain a range of good bacteria, but the most common ones are from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus families. Medical experts believe they may strengthen your immune system and help to recolonize your bodys microorganism community. Probiotics are found in natural yogurt and plant-based foods, such as kefir, fermented sauerkraut, and fermented soy products such as tempeh. They are also available as dietary supplements.
Supporting Your Immune System
Probiotics also play an essential role in your immune system. The microbes in your digestive tract act as a barrier against harmful microorganisms. Probiotics alter your microbiome, alleviating the inflammatory response in your gut. This has a balancing effect since the probiotics fight alongside your existing microflora to prevent destructive bacteria from infiltrating.
Also Check: Probiotics For 14 Year Olds
Learning About The Microbiome
The community of microorganisms that lives on us and in us is called the âmicrobiome,â and itâs a hot topic for research. The Human Microbiome Project, supported by the National Institutes of Health from 2007 to 2016, played a key role in this research by mapping the normal bacteria that live in and on the healthy human body. With this understanding of a normal microbiome as the basis, researchers around the world, including many supported by NIH, are now exploring the links between changes in the microbiome and various diseases. Theyâre also developing new therapeutic approaches designed to modify the microbiome to treat disease and support health.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is among the many agencies funding research on the microbiome. Researchers supported by NCCIH are studying the interactions between components of food and microorganisms in the digestive tract. The focus is on the ways in which diet-microbiome interactions may lead to the production of substances with beneficial health effects.
The Dosage The Method And Potential Side Effects
According to Consumer Lab, a probiotic should provide at least 1 billion CFUs , with doses typically ranging between 1 billion and 10 billion CFUs daily for adults . Natural Wellnesss Super Probiotics contains 10 billion viable cells in each serving.
If youre looking for a stronger probiotic, Natural Wellness also offers Ultra Probiotic Formula, which has 35 billion living cells per capsule. Both probioitc supplements are developed to withstand the acids in your stomach so they reach their intended destinations.
But what are the side effects of taking too much probiotics, you ask? While most people experience no side effects, some people unfortunately do, and among them the most commonly reported is digestion discomfort. Bloating or diarrhea may also result, so pull the reins if you feel the onset of an upset stomach.
In terms of the time it takes for a high-quality probiotic to start working, granted it survives your stomach acid, is roughly 30-60 minutes. That means you should be patient and wait for probiotics to do their thing before taking any more.
And, according to the Mayo Clinic, probiotics should not be combined with any of the following:
- Any prescription drug that affects your immune system
- Any sort of fungal infection treatment
- Having pancreatitis
Take extra precaution if you get infections often or have a weakened immune system as well, and always consult your physician or dietitian before introducing probiotics into your diet .
You May Like: What Is The Best Probiotic For Ibs
Sohow Do You Balance Gut Bacteria With A Gut Cleanse
One of the best things you can do to rebalance your gut bacteria is to incorporate prebiotics and probiotics.
But hold up, lets define what those are!
Probiotics: Live, beneficial bacteria. These usually come in supplement form, or can be found in foods like yogurt or kombucha.
Prebiotics: Probiotics lesser-known friend, prebiotics can be thought of as food for good gut bacteria. When probiotics eat prebiotics, they produce helpful compounds like short-chain fatty acids that are great for your gut.
These good bacteria can produce antimicrobial compounds that then help to kick out the bad guys in other words, they’ll help “cleanse” your gut from the bad bacteria inhabiting it.
The result, over time, is a more balanced gut microbiome one that helps keep digestive problems in check and helps to keep you healthy overall!
Let’s Find Out What A Probiotic Is
Probiotics are microorganisms that live mainly in your gut. They also live in other parts of your body including:
- Your mouth
- Your lungs
- Your vagina
These microorganisms are a combination of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. Collectively known as your microbiome, this mass of organisms is crucial for your digestive wellness. There are two types of bacteria living in your gut: the so-called good bacteria and so-called bad bacteria. When the bad stuff takes over, due to infection, poor diet, or antibiotic use, you suffer an imbalance. Symptoms of such an imbalance can include:
- Skin conditions such as eczema
- Vaginal and urinary infections
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Recommended Reading: What Is The Benefit Of Taking A Probiotic
Potential Benefits And Drawbacks Of A Natural Colon Cleanse
According to an ancient belief referred to as the theory of autointoxication, certain foods such as undigested meat can lead to mucus buildup in your colon. As a result, this buildup causes toxins that enter the blood, poisoning the entire body. Some people believe that these toxins can lead to a variety of side effects, including weight gain, fatigue, high blood pressure, and arthritis. By cleansing your colon, you remove the mucus and the toxins from your body, boosting your immune system.
Unfortunately, there is insufficient clinical evidence to show whether colon cleanses provide these benefits. Moreover, when misused, colon cleanses can be dangerous. For example, obsessive colon cleanse can lead to eating disorders, uncomfortable colon spasms, dehydration, perforation or a tear in the rectum, and changes in electrolyte balance.
If you attempt to do a colon cleanse, make sure to take the right precautions. Always check in with a reliable healthcare professional, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions and/or take medications for conditions such as heart or kidney disease.
That being said, when performed correctly, a natural colon cleanse can have many benefits. For example, these include:
- Weight loss
- Reduced risk of colon cancer
- Improved mental outlook
- Improved immune system
When Should You See A Doctor
Colon cleansing should only be done occasionally when your digestive system is not feeling or acting right. Overuse can quickly lead to chronic constipation or even bowel injury. A healthy body should not need cleansing. Generally, I would argue that when our bodies are in good health, they are equipped to cleanse themselves, notes Dr. Eric Johnson, a colorectal surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic.
If you feel your gut needs cleansing, try the gentle remedies mentioned here. If these fail to bring you relief or if you have unusual results, contact a doctor for further advice and possible treatment. You may need a more professional approach, such as colonic irrigation.
Overdoing colon cleansing can be harmful. Watch for these side effects of intense cleanses:
- Nausea
- Cramping
You May Like: Best Probiotic For Toddlers On Antibiotics
Guidelines For Taking Probiotics
One final note: start slowly. When you first start using a probiotic supplement, there is a chance that you will precipitate a die-off of bad bacteria in your intestinal tract. This can lead to gas, stomach rumblings, and cramping for up to three weeks.
Still interested in more information on probiotic benefits? Review the following Newsletters:
Reduces Constipation And Restores Healthy Gut Movement
In this study, a colonic irrigation system called the Ashong colonic irrigation apparatus served to help patients with irritable bowel syndrome . The study looked at the efficiency and safety of ACIA in the treatment of IBS.
There were 18 patients in the study, 12 with constipation-dominant IBS and 6 with diarrhea-dominant IBS . The patients received colonic irrigation twice daily for six days in a row. The results of this study showed that colonic irrigation with ACIA is safe and can alleviate IBS-related abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea.
Recommended Reading: Can A Probiotic Constipate You
Do You Need A Colon Cleansing
There are a number of important reasons to making sure stool is expelled from your digestion system regularly.
Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that a diet low in fiber and high in fat increases a persons risk of colon cancer. Scientists think there is a link between poor diet and changes in the microbes that live in the colon, which lead to inflammation and increased cancer risk.
For example, fiber is one of the best foods for cleaning out your colon effectively. Researchers say that dietary fiber found in wholegrain foods, fruits, vegetables, and nuts help to lower your risk of certain diseases. Fiber has a high nutritional value and aids healthy digestion.
Keeping your colon clean and free of a buildup of excess waste is essential for good health.
What exactly is colon cleansing and is flushing toxins out of your body something you should be worried about?
Your Gut Cleanse Needs
- Clean water and herbal teas
- Fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and miso
- GMO-free, free-range chicken
- Seasonal fruits and vegetables
- Healthy fats such as salmon, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and coconut oil
- Sprouts
- Dairy-free milk such as almond and coconut milk
- Herbs and spices, especially ginger, garlic, and turmeric
- Psyllium husk for more fiber
- Apple cider vinegar, tamari, and coconut aminos
- Super greens including BIOHM Super Greens
You May Like: Do Probiotics Help You Lose Stomach Fat
The Herbal Power Flush
The Herbal Power Flush contains Psyllium seed husk, which is HIGH in fiber and an amazing kick for digestion and colon cleansing. Psyllium is beneficial for digestive regularity. It traps water in the intestine, increasing stool water, and stimulating and easing bowel movement.
Another power ingredient is Cascara Sagrada bark. Cascara is a well-known herbal remedy that provides temporary relief for constipation. Cascara is usually well-tolerated and safe for use in reasonable amounts. It functions primarily as a natural laxative, stimulating bowel movement and emptying the colon.
Fiber From Foods Pears Apples Blackberries Avocado Black Beans Lentils And Okra And One Large 2
Most people simply dont eat enough fiber in their diet. They need more. The 7 highest fiber foods are listed here in this high fiber sample diet menu:
- Breakfast: Omelet with lentils, celery, onions, garlic, and avocado on the side. Pear as a side dish.
- Lunch: 2-quart salad with salad dressing and protein
- Dinner: Protein food with 1-cup black beans and 1-cup okra. Apple for dessert.
Youll see bowel movements like you havent seen in years!
Read Also: What Is Probiotic Pills Good For
The Risks Of Colon Cleansing
The problem is, colon cleansing is not scientifically supported. Not only is there no evidence that its beneficial, it can be potentially risky. One report that scrutinized 20 previous studies on colon cleansing showed colon cleansing and colon hydrotherapy are linked with a number of side effects. Some of the minor ones include nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating and distension and diarrhea. More serious side effects of colon cleansing have also been shown, including sodium and potassium imbalances, dehydration, kidney failure and, in the case of colon hydrotherapy, injury or a tear to the colon wall. People who have had colon surgery or have certain diseases of the colon including diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease and even hemorrhoids are at higher risk for complications. Colon cleansing is not a risk-free procedure nor is it a pleasant experience.
Here Are Some Simple Ways To Help You Beat Any Bloating Or Discomfort:
Hydration
No question, the most efficient way of ridding your body of toxins is by drinking lots of water. Hydrating your body can also temporarily keep constipation and diarrhea at bay .
Experts recommend consuming the number of ounces equivalent to half of your body weight every day. Feel free to add some lemon to boost the alkaline level, thus further helping to clean you out.
Exercise
Our bodies are designed to stay in motion for a good portion of the day, so obviously, a highly sedentary lifestyle will negatively affect the performance of your body including all your detox powerhouses !
Since the lymphatic system doesnt have a functional pump like the heart, it requires a lot of movement to transport toxins and other wastes out of the body cells .
Any form of physical exercise you enjoy doing, whether its jogging, dancing, or power yoga, will help you to get things moving in the digestive tract. Why not get back in touch with your inner child? As it turns out, jumping on a trampoline can be especially effective for pushing lymph fluids around the body.
As you incorporate probiotics to clean you out, remember that probiotics are not the only piece of the health puzzle. Sticking to your plant-based diet, choosing seasonal produce and sipping on a daily Glowing Green Smoothie® are key. As well as getting adequate sleep, exercise, and incorporating digestive enzyme support. Heres to a happy and healthy gut going forward!
In love and health,
Also Check: Nature’s Bounty Acidophilus Probiotic Tablets Reviews
