The Pros and Cons of Colon Cleansing

Colon cleansing is advocated as an essential way to maintain a healthy colon, and consequentially, a healthy life – but are there dangers to colon cleansing?

It is generally accepted that a good diet (high fibre) and regular bowel movements can prevent a build-up of toxins and harmful bacteria, which can become cancerous over time.  It is also more than generally accepted that most North Americans do not have a healthy diet. 

So colon cleansing is a good thing, right? 

Potential danger of colon cleansing: Taking laxatives can cause dependency, and the colon will lose its natural capability to evacuate toxic material.

Colon Cleansing

This is a valid point, and people should be careful about the laxatives they use.  Herbal shakes tend to be okay, but unfortunately there is not a lot of data on natural medicines.  Taking any product for colon cleansing should be first discussed with a licensed medical professional.

Other opposing arguments state that colon cleansing is unnecessary - the colon’s biological functions are designed to do its own cleansing.  

This is an important point – a healthy colon can certainly remove toxins from the body.  But unfortunately, many people’s diets are not healthy, and build-up in the colon is all too common. 

Colon cleansing supporters compare the colon with other organs like the lungs.  It is no surprise that mistreating the lungs over time (smoking, smog, etc.) will impair its ability to remove toxins from the air you’re breathing; as such, an unhealthy diet will obviously impair your colon’s ability to do the same job which they feel justifies colon cleansing. 

Concluding, it is generally accepted that colon cleansing has little danger associated with it though there are valid reasons for and against colon cleansing.  Always contact your doctor before beginning any medical procedures.